The ‘Lost Boys’ – a crisis report

News

A major new report from the Centre for Social Justice, titled ‘Lost Boys’, reveals once again the devastating impact of fatherlessness on our young men. Shockingly, a boy growing up in Britain today is more likely to own a smartphone than have a father at home. One in five British children grows up without a father figure, with severe consequences for their mental health, educational success, and social behaviour. The CSJ rightly calls fatherlessness “an epidemic”.

Boys are falling behind girls in education at every stage and are twice as likely to be expelled from school. The report claims that the so-called ‘wage gap’ has now been reversed for those aged 16 to 24 who are working full-time. It’s no coincidence that three-quarters of children in custody have an absent father, and that suicide is now the leading cause of death for men under 50.

This crisis has long been recognised by the UK media. Nearly two decades ago, research led by former government minister Iain Duncan Smith highlighted the link between family breakdown, rising crime rates and substance abuse.

International research confirms this is not limited to the UK; the Institute for Family Studies notes that American young men without their biological father at home are twice as likely to spend time in jail by age 30. This stark reality is reinforced in Warren Farrell’s authoritative book ‘The Boy Crisis’, which cites “dad deprivation” as the primary reason boys fall behind academically, emotionally, and socially.

But let’s be clear: at the root of this crisis – and it is a crisis – is the relentless erosion of man-woman marriage. Decades of promoting alternatives to real marriage, such as hook-up culture, cohabitation and same-sex ‘marriage’ – particularly to children through schools and media – have significantly increased family breakdown. Data consistently shows that marriages are far more stable than cohabiting relationships, providing children with the security and stability essential for healthy development.

As marriage supporters, we know marriage isn’t merely a lifestyle choice – it’s foundational to healthy families and stable societies. Encouraging and protecting man-woman marriage is the single most powerful way to address fatherlessness and its devastating consequences. This isn’t just about morality; it’s about the wellbeing of our children and society.

It’s time to advocate clearly and unashamedly for real marriage. Our schools, media, and culture must promote marriage between one man and one woman as the ideal environment for raising children. Only then can we begin to heal the deep wounds fatherlessness has inflicted on our culture and its “lost boys”.

Please join us in calling on policymakers to prioritise marriage as the key solution to this national crisis. Let’s restore marriage to its rightful place – for our children, our families, and our future.