“Boys Will Be Boys” Mentality
4 Reasons We Should Be Weary of this Stereotype
At Camp Kupugani, our Midwest summer camp near Chicago and Madison, we empower each child to feel welcome and to live their best life. We do not subscribe to the “Boys will be boys” mentality. A recent article from Psychology Today elucidates why that mantra is non-positive; see below for bullets, with the full article here.
- It prompts children to construct gender stereotypes (read our FAQ about blended camp to see how we feel about gender stereotypes).
- Children should be seen as people first.
- There is no one way to be a boy.
- “Boys will be boys” contributes to a culture of “toxic masculinity.”
- It is misinformed thinking and oversimplifies the problem.
- It tries to explain away aggressive behavior
- Places the blame on natural impulses without a deeper understanding of the behavior
- Can be used to justify bullying
- It tries to explain away aggressive behavior
- It limits the full expression of children.
- States certain traits are only for boys or men
- Studies have shown that males and females are very similar
- Gender stereotypes allow unconscious biases to form and proliferate.
- Unconscious or implicit bias is something we try to understand at camp.
- Gender stereotypes enforce a limiting, binary view.
Article Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us