In recent decades, significant strides have been made in recognizing and addressing issues that predominantly affect girls and women. Campaigns and initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality and empowerment for females have become prominent and impactful. This shift towards redressing historical gender imbalances is a welcome and necessary evolution. However, in the midst of these commendable efforts, a question looms large and yet is often met with silence: Why don’t we care about boys?
It’s a controversial inquiry, laced with the potential for misunderstanding and backlash, but it’s a crucial one. The idea isn’t to detract from the progress made on behalf of girls but to shine a light on the societal blindness to the issues that disproportionately impact boys and young men. Indeed, by continuing to ignore such problems, we might be inadvertently fostering an environment that could be detrimental to all genders.
Specific Issues Affecting Boys
To understand why we should care about boys, we need to recognize the unique challenges they do face. Here are just some of the issues worthy of our attention… Boys are more likely to be victims of violence, less likely to graduate from high school, and more likely to be diagnosed with a behavioural disorder. They represent a larger percentage of those who are expelled from school, and they are falling behind in academics, particularly literacy.
Furthermore, traditional notions of masculinity can be restrictive and damaging. Boys are often taught to suppress emotions, to “man up,” and to solve their problems through aggression. This suppression can lead to a range of mental health issues, including higher suicide rates among young men compared to young women. The societal expectation that boys are inherently resilient and less in need of support can leave them without the emotional tools they need to navigate life’s challenges.
Societal Blindness
The blindness to boys’ issues may stem from a complex mixture of historical gender roles, current societal narratives, and a simple lack of awareness. Traditional views often paint males as the strong and silent type—leaders, providers, and protectors. Such archetypes can obscure the vulnerabilities that boys face, creating a façade of invulnerability.
Media representation often exacerbates this problem. Stories of male heroism and stoicism flood our screens, while the struggles of young men with mental health, self-esteem, and identity are less frequently portrayed. When these issues are discussed, they are often framed within a larger conversation about societal ills, without specific focus on how they uniquely affect boys.
Moreover, there is a troubling narrative that not only overlooks the issues boys face but sometimes positions boys as the root of social problems. The discourse around toxic masculinity, while important in addressing certain harmful behaviours, can inadvertently cast boys and young men in a negative light. When society emphasizes narratives that portray boys as the embodiment of societal issues — from aggression to sexism — without recognizing the systemic and social factors that contribute to these behaviours, it risks alienating them further. Boys grow up in a world where they are often told that masculinity itself is a problem, which can lead to confusion, shame, and a lack of positive identity formation.
The Effects of Societal Blindness
The repercussions of ignoring issues specific to boys are profound. For one, it can contribute to the continuation of unhealthy norms about masculinity. If we don’t address the emotional and psychological needs of boys, we perpetuate a cycle where men are ill-equipped to express themselves, leading to potential relationship issues, work dissatisfaction, and mental health crises.
This blindness can also result in a lack of targeted interventions that could help boys who are struggling academically or socially. Without acknowledging that boys are falling behind in certain areas, there’s little impetus to implement strategies to support them, leading to a waste of potential and contributing to social problems down the line, such as unemployment or underemployment.
Moreover, by not engaging boys in conversations about gender equality and empowerment, we miss out on cultivating allies for these causes. Boys and men play a crucial role in challenging and changing harmful gender norms. Excluding them from these conversations denies us the collective effort needed to build a more equitable society.
Moving Forward: Addressing the Issues
So, what can be done? First, we need a societal shift in how we perceive and talk about the issues affecting boys. This involves education systems, parents, media, and policymakers acknowledging the challenges and actively working to change the narrative.
Most importantly, we need to ensure that discussions around masculinity and societal issues do not simplify boys to caricatures of problems to be fixed but rather recognize them as individuals who are navigating complex webs of expectations, pressures, and norms. The conversation must be balanced; it requires us to acknowledge that boys are facing a range of issues that need our understanding and support. It is essential to identify and address harmful behaviours while simultaneously nurturing the positive attributes that boys can exhibit. By doing so, we validate the experiences of boys and young men and empower them to be part of the solution, rather than casting them as the problem. Only with this balanced approach can we move toward a truly inclusive and supportive society for all genders.
Programs and support systems tailored to the specific needs of boys are also essential. From early education to mental health services, recognizing the different ways boys develop and experience the world can lead to more effective support.
In addition, creating safe spaces for boys and men to express their emotions and vulnerabilities without fear of ridicule or rejection is critical. This can be facilitated through mentorship programs, emotional literacy education, and community initiatives that encourage positive, diverse expressions of masculinity.
Conclusion
In our laudable pursuit to address the injustices faced by girls and women, we must not turn a blind eye to the silent struggles of boys and young men. Gender equality and empowerment are not zero sum issues – IF we create a foundation for boys to grow into well-rounded, emotionally intelligent men who can contribute positively to society. In this sense, it’s not about diverting attention from the issues faced by girls, but about ensuring that our approach to gender equity is truly inclusive.
Building on this foundation requires a cultural transformation that includes redefining and celebrating masculinity, promoting emotional resilience, and emphasizing the value of vulnerability as strength. Through education reform, media representation, community support, and policy change, we can address the root causes of the problems boys face and work towards a society where the well-being of all children is prioritized.
Supporting boys as they navigate the challenges specific to their gender can lead to healthier relationships, reduced rates of crime and substance abuse, and a decrease in the rates of male suicide. It is in our collective interest to raise boys who are not only successful but also emotionally healthy and capable of contributing to the well-being of their communities.
In conclusion, our society must expand its vision of gender equity to include the struggles of boys. We need to care about boys, not because their issues are more important, but because they are equally important. By doing so, we’re not only addressing the immediate needs of young men, but we’re also investing in the future health and harmony of our society at large. It’s time to balance the scales of gender-focused issues and extend empathy and action towards boys and young men. They, too, deserve our care and attention.
Prof Ben Hine 