Men are increasingly indulging in a “Viagra and Jack Daniels” culture due to financial pressures and changing attitudes to sex, Labour frontbencher Diane Abbott will claim tomorrow.
The shadow public health minister will also attack “heartlessness” in a culture of “hypermasculinity”, with men getting hooked on consumerism rather than the British “gold standard” of earning, providing and belonging.
In a keynote speech in central London on a “crisis of masculinity”, Ms Abbott will warn against the damaging effect of pornogaphy on men, as well as women.
It is fuelling a “Viagra and Jack Daniels” culture, she will say.
“Growing numbers of men of all ages (are) turning to the drug by themselves due to performance anxiety, triggered by a host of psychological issues - from our increasingly pornified culture making ‘normal’ sex boring, to financial pressures,” she will add.
The Left-wing Labour MP and single mother will claim that a “culture of hypermasculinity” can be seen in schools, some City institutions, inner city areas and and even on many student campuses.
“At its worst, it’s a celebration of heartlessness; a lack of respect for women’s autonomy; and the normalisation of homophobia,” she will emphasise.
“I fear it’s often crude individualism dressed up as modern manhood.
“What made a British man used to be earning, providing and belonging. But I fear that gold standard has melted into taking, owning and consuming.”
The Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP also believes Britain has a “generation of boys without heroes, struggling to find a role, and sometimes, a voice, in society”.
Calling for stronger bonds between fathers and their children, she was due to add: “It’s all becoming a bit like the film Fight Club - the first rule of being a man in modern Britain is that you’re not allowed to talk about it.”
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Young boys were getting lost to gangs, “fantasy worlds” and a “market outlook” pushing self-gratification and sensory pleasures.
