Hey Everyone,
Over the past several months, I've noticed several ads on YouTube, etc., that have been all for the empowerment of little girls. Likewise, in the women's magazines I thumb through while on the treadmill, all the articles I see are about how "Girls can be anything! Girls can change the world! Girl power!!" And while I am all for cheering on little girls (especially when they have skills in traditionally male-dominated fields), I also have a growing concern that little boys are being left behind.
Who, if anyone, is encouraging little boys?
In a sermon I heard recently, the pastor stated that he was relieved that his family consisted of two older boys and a daughter, who was the youngest. This young pastor told us that he regularly quizzed his boys with, "What is your job?" and they would readily reply, "To protect our sister."
But who, if anyone, tells little boys that they are protected and looked after... and that even as grown men, they don't have to have all the answers or do everything by themselves?
After all, the last time I looked at the statistics (though it's been a while and may have shifted), little boys are just as much at risk for every kind of abuse and trauma as little girls. Who is telling them that someone has their back, and that they don't have to carry their burdens alone? This seems especially true as life progresses--I have often wondered what kind of weight and loneliness men must feel in thinking that they have to carry not only their own issues, but those of their family as well.
These thoughts were exacerbated when I saw my Grandpa's reaction to my Grandma getting sick, and later, my Dad's reaction when we were in a car accident that was not his fault. Clearly, they each felt that they had failed at protecting and taking care of their families, and most especially, their women.
In the 80's, a singer named John Parr had a song (the theme from the movie "St. Elmo's Fire") with some of my favorite lyrics:
"And I can make it, I know I can.
You broke the boy in me,
But you won't break the man."
As a woman, I feel this is an important subject not only in regards to raising our young male family members, but also in regards to being a future helpmate and letting him know that we're fighting back-to-back, and I'll be working on holding up my end of the deal. For me, my weapons of choice would be a Bible in one hand and a phone in the other (to call for backup, of course.)
* Do you believe that little boys are being left behind, or do you think society encourages both genders equally?
* What can be done to ensure that boys and men of all ages are assured that they aren't alone and are valued?
* If you have younger male relatives (brothers, cousins, nephews, etc.), what are you and your family doing to encourage their faith and belief in themselves?
I have been thinking about this topic for many months and would love to hear your thoughts.
Over the past several months, I've noticed several ads on YouTube, etc., that have been all for the empowerment of little girls. Likewise, in the women's magazines I thumb through while on the treadmill, all the articles I see are about how "Girls can be anything! Girls can change the world! Girl power!!" And while I am all for cheering on little girls (especially when they have skills in traditionally male-dominated fields), I also have a growing concern that little boys are being left behind.
Who, if anyone, is encouraging little boys?
In a sermon I heard recently, the pastor stated that he was relieved that his family consisted of two older boys and a daughter, who was the youngest. This young pastor told us that he regularly quizzed his boys with, "What is your job?" and they would readily reply, "To protect our sister."
But who, if anyone, tells little boys that they are protected and looked after... and that even as grown men, they don't have to have all the answers or do everything by themselves?
After all, the last time I looked at the statistics (though it's been a while and may have shifted), little boys are just as much at risk for every kind of abuse and trauma as little girls. Who is telling them that someone has their back, and that they don't have to carry their burdens alone? This seems especially true as life progresses--I have often wondered what kind of weight and loneliness men must feel in thinking that they have to carry not only their own issues, but those of their family as well.
These thoughts were exacerbated when I saw my Grandpa's reaction to my Grandma getting sick, and later, my Dad's reaction when we were in a car accident that was not his fault. Clearly, they each felt that they had failed at protecting and taking care of their families, and most especially, their women.
In the 80's, a singer named John Parr had a song (the theme from the movie "St. Elmo's Fire") with some of my favorite lyrics:
"And I can make it, I know I can.
You broke the boy in me,
But you won't break the man."
As a woman, I feel this is an important subject not only in regards to raising our young male family members, but also in regards to being a future helpmate and letting him know that we're fighting back-to-back, and I'll be working on holding up my end of the deal. For me, my weapons of choice would be a Bible in one hand and a phone in the other (to call for backup, of course.)
* Do you believe that little boys are being left behind, or do you think society encourages both genders equally?
* What can be done to ensure that boys and men of all ages are assured that they aren't alone and are valued?
* If you have younger male relatives (brothers, cousins, nephews, etc.), what are you and your family doing to encourage their faith and belief in themselves?
I have been thinking about this topic for many months and would love to hear your thoughts.