Something non-political to discuss:
Premise: People seem to largely agree that children would benefit from greater interaction with male role models in their lives. Especially with the prevalance of single family homes, often with a mother as the sole active parent, child interactions with male role models proves all the more important.
Issue: Society discourages males from showing any active interest in children other than their own. Media obsession with abductions, pedophilia (is that word still filtered?) and other misconduct has cast a shroud of suspicion over men who show the same interest in children which we find acceptable in women. There is a marked contrast in reaction, for example, betweem a solitary male who smiles at a child playing in a park and a female who does the same. Consequently, men are discouraged from becoming teachers (especially at the pre-high school level), counselors, trainers or other tasks which would put them into positive contact with young children. Perhaps worse, males are denied opportunities to build their own parenting skills before they become parents. Unlike females, males are often considered a risk as baby-sitters, coaches or other tasks which build care-giving skills at a younger age. When they are, it's less often to children of the opposite gender.
Thoughts? Brilliant solutions?
The above is largely anecdotal and from observation. If you want to argue it, knock yourself out.