This is a comment by hahz on the post “Challenging ‘Boys Will Be Boys’“.
hahz said:
This is a wonderfully compassionate perspective and I found myself nodding in agreement throughout. It’s been a long time since my school days, but I have seen first-hand how “boys will be boys” provides an excuse for many boys (who become men) to simply behave badly. There are boundary issues at play there than can stick with the boys as they grow up. I also remember clearly how confusing it was to be harassed by girls (who become women), how hard it was to be taken seriously when I spoke up to my teachers, because they just wouldn’t believe the girls were capable of it.
I also like that you leave the nature/nurture question out there, while zeroing in on the really important part — that while girls and boys (for whatever reasons) may gravitate more toward certain different activities, no one deserves to be treated poorly for “stepping out” of their socially prescribed role, and a person’s gender is never an excuse to act like a jerk. It’s so important for parents to get on this train early and often. Anyway, thanks for the refreshing read.
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