As a follow-up to my previous post, I'd like to ask another question. My previous post got quite a few upvotes but very few comments, so I'm wondering whether that's because people aren't sure what to say, doesn't have enough information or analysis of the situation or because some may be reluctant to express their opinions openly.

I've been thinking about the entertainment industry as a whole—not just actors, but also writers, directors, producers, and everyone else involved.

Why do so many men participate in movies and TV shows that repeatedly portray men as incompetent, immature, disposable, emotionally deficient, or as people who always need to be corrected?

Do they genuinely believe these portrayals are fair? Are they simply following what sells? Or do they feel that questioning these narratives could seriously damage their careers?

One example, in my view, is Crazy, Stupid, Love. The husband is cheated on, loses his marriage, his home, much of his family life, and his social status. Yet the story still presents him as someone who mainly needs to change. The other main male character is also portrayed as needing to abandon his lifestyle and become a different kind of man. My takeaway is that, regardless of what men experience, they are ultimately the ones expected to adapt.

What concerns me most, though, it's the long-term effect of repeating this kind of message over and over.

If boys and men constantly see themselves portrayed as foolish, morally suspect, or as people whose masculinity must always be corrected, what does that do to how they see themselves? Could this create resentment rather than empathy? Could it actually push some men toward more defensive or even more radical positions because they feel they are being unfairly stereotyped or blamed?

I'm genuinely interested in what people here think. Is this a real phenomenon, or am I reading too much into it?