Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Feminism & Raising Boys

54 replies

AntiquityIsDotDotDot · 19/04/2015 09:37

I see this pop up lots & it's also something that concerns me as I have two sons. I have certainly seen plenty of comments along the lines of feminism isn't about men when this issue comes up. But the fact is boys are children, not men, and we are raising them. Yes, a lot of unpaid parenting work goes into this & that is, in the end, working for men. But they are children, children disproportionately targeted by adult men for ridicule & corporal punish. Children also mocked by other women as well as men for perceived feminine traits.

One of my boys (and perhaps both) has autism. He will be more vulnerable to male violence as he grows up. Both will be confronted with the objectification of women & through no doubt inevitable exposure to porn be at least taught the hurt, shame & degradation of women should be what they find pleasurable.

How is parenting boy CHILDREN not a feminist issue?

OP posts:
JeanneDeMontbaston · 19/04/2015 09:44

YY, definitely a feminist issue.

tribpot · 19/04/2015 09:44

I'm not sure I recognise most of the comments you describe.

Feminism is about men, it's about achieving gender equality. One of the ways that we can do that is ensure that adult men (fathers) are fully involved in parenting and that boys are educated beyond stereotypes. Educated about the effects of violence and porn, surely.

You're saying that boys are disproportionately targeted by men for corporal punishment and ridicule? Based on what? (It may be true but I'm not aware of stats to that effect). And compared to what other forms of abuse? Are you saying abuse of boys is treated less seriously than abuse of girls?

cailindana · 19/04/2015 09:42

It is a feminist issue, is the answer, and it's a tough one, because it's hard to fight against the conditioning that children face once they go out into the wider world. My own DS loves fairy costumes but has learned that that is "for girls." He still wears them at home but won't wear them in front of friends and I won't post a picture of him wearing one on facebook as I know the nasty and ignorant comments I will get from my own family. And that's just the start of it.

As long as boys are brought up to despise "girly" things then the cycle of sexism will continue and nothing will ever change.

Original poster
AntiquityIsDotDotDot · 19/04/2015 09:39

Typing on phone so that's not as comprehensive or perhaps makes as much sense as I would like!

OP posts: