What is the Problem With Our Boys and Men?

I read this article, The Problem With Boys…is actually a problem with men. By Tom Chiarella. WOW.

The author states, “We’ve ignored all the evidence of male achievement and ambition deficits and stood aside as our sons have notched a growing record of failure and disengagement. It’s time we did something about it. A call to action.”

He continues, “But here’s the deal if you are a boy in this country right now: You’re twice as likely as a girl to be diagnosed with an attention-deficit or learning disorder. You’re more likely to score worse on standardized reading and writing tests. You’re more likely to be held back in school. You’re more likely to drop out of school. If you do graduate, you’re less likely to go to college. If you do go to college, you will get lower grades and, once again, you will be less likely to graduate. You’ll be twice as likely to abuse alcohol, and until you are twenty-four, you are five times as likely to kill yourself. You are more than sixteen times as likely to go to prison.”

When I’m out with all four of the boys, people inevitably comes up to me and make comments. They always ask if I still want a girl or if I’m going to try again. What makes them think that they have any right to comment on my fertility is beyond me.

These people to make comments, also always feel the need to tell me about how wild and destructive their sons or their friend’s son or their neighbor’s sons are. Like I care. They say this useless information in a way that almost seems cruel. Like here I am with FOUR boys. What am I suppose to say in response? I’m certainly not about to join in on the bashing session!

Also, what does their ignorant comments mean to my sons when they hear them. I’ll tell you…my oldest has commented to me when someone has said something about me wanting a girl or talking down wild boys. He once said that it didn’t sound like the lady likes boys, why not?

What messages is society communicating about boys? What do you think on this subject? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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susan ruth meyers  - I just read this |Registered |2009-11-04 00:44:22 Maybe we need to rethink the idea that only girls suffer from self esteem issues. The difference is the way it expresses itself in society. There is a lot of pressure and parent who makes that kind of remark is only making an excuse for her lazy approach to parenting.