This question - “What messages does it send to boys when they see that someone can be brag about - and be found guilty of - sexual assault and still get elected president?” -- is the one that's been going 'round & 'round in my head. (As well as its corollaries: What does it mean for girls? For women? For our society & country?) My boys are about the same age as yours. Like you, I remember that Access Hollywood recording coming out & being compelled to talk w my boys. I remember being frustrated & disgusted; there I was, a parent of 4 young boys, trying to teach them that such behavior and talk is NOT OKAY, while a presidential candidate does it. Well, we now know how that turned out. Despite that tape, he was elected president. Despite that tape, and the convictions, and the consistent, persistent sexism and racism, he was elected again; over a female, again. And as much as I did talk w my boys about what I consider appropriate, respectful behavior - and did my best to model such -- they grew up in a society that normalizes, celebrates, and rewards the opposite.
I am not really sure how to respond to this. Insm the mother of a daughter, not a son, so I guess I have a different perspective. I don’t see any discussion about how boys need to grow up to respect women, care about their health and bodies, think of them as equal citizens in the world. Right now, boys have learned that women come second behind men’s desire for wealth and power. That if they stand up to men, they get insulted and bullied. It is hard for me to feel bad for boys right now
Hi Jaci - Those discussions - about how boys need to grow up to respect women, care about their health and bodies, and think of them as equal citizens in the world - are the exact ones I want to see happening more.
I think we need active strategies to engage boys and young men, and I try to shine a light on them when I see them.
I understand that… I think it feels like the pendulum has swung way over to only caring about boys and their feelings right now … at the expense of women. Hopefully we can have a discussion that weighs everyone equally
I hear you! I've been posting/focusing on boys a lot because I'm writing a book about them, but I follow a bunch of writers whose work you might connect with. Here are a few:
This question - “What messages does it send to boys when they see that someone can be brag about - and be found guilty of - sexual assault and still get elected president?” -- is the one that's been going 'round & 'round in my head. (As well as its corollaries: What does it mean for girls? For women? For our society & country?) My boys are about the same age as yours. Like you, I remember that Access Hollywood recording coming out & being compelled to talk w my boys. I remember being frustrated & disgusted; there I was, a parent of 4 young boys, trying to teach them that such behavior and talk is NOT OKAY, while a presidential candidate does it. Well, we now know how that turned out. Despite that tape, he was elected president. Despite that tape, and the convictions, and the consistent, persistent sexism and racism, he was elected again; over a female, again. And as much as I did talk w my boys about what I consider appropriate, respectful behavior - and did my best to model such -- they grew up in a society that normalizes, celebrates, and rewards the opposite.
I am not really sure how to respond to this. Insm the mother of a daughter, not a son, so I guess I have a different perspective. I don’t see any discussion about how boys need to grow up to respect women, care about their health and bodies, think of them as equal citizens in the world. Right now, boys have learned that women come second behind men’s desire for wealth and power. That if they stand up to men, they get insulted and bullied. It is hard for me to feel bad for boys right now
Hi Jaci - Those discussions - about how boys need to grow up to respect women, care about their health and bodies, and think of them as equal citizens in the world - are the exact ones I want to see happening more.
I think we need active strategies to engage boys and young men, and I try to shine a light on them when I see them.
I understand that… I think it feels like the pendulum has swung way over to only caring about boys and their feelings right now … at the expense of women. Hopefully we can have a discussion that weighs everyone equally
I hear you! I've been posting/focusing on boys a lot because I'm writing a book about them, but I follow a bunch of writers whose work you might connect with. Here are a few:
https://joannfinkelstein.substack.com/
https://melindawmoyer.substack.com/
https://annehelen.substack.com/
https://jill.substack.com/
https://designmom.substack.com/
https://lizplank.substack.com/