Let's question where mankeeping comes from: does anyone not want to see their friends? Probably not, or they'd not be friends. We have social impulses. We don't want to be lonely. That's a hot topic

What I'm thinking is that mankeeping behaviour is being used to belittle men who are already behaving as though they feel too guilty to maintain relationships outside of their partnership or marriage.

The creation of an environment which makes seeing friends into a source of conflict is the basis for control. Exercising that control is then used as a basis for further control: namely, "playdates" for adult men.

Mankeeping infantilises those men, shrinks their self worth, and makes it seem like the only acceptable friendships are the ones gatekept by their partners. Those partners, incidentally, will probably also be in attendance and so be able to prevent (just by their presence) any discussion of say, relationship difficulties. Those partners get to choose who is actually an acceptable friend for their husbands and boyfriends.

The idea that mankeeping is because men are useless is absolutely incredible. We are sociable creatures who go through new workplaces and life stages and we manage just fine. I don't believe we lack the social skills.

Am I crazy, or are mankeepers probably controlling emotional abusers? Is this kind of thing endemic?