Boys and men

[FinallyTimeToSleep]

I have two boys. DS1 is 11 and has always been a kind of 'alpha male' type - wants big muscles! massively sporty, naturally loves all traditionally 'male' pursuits. His younger brother is a bit the opposite. He is v gentle, likes to keep fit but not sporty, into art and music. I love them both for who they are. They r great kids (in my v bias mum opinion!)

Anyway, DS1 has become increasingly frustrated at school because the girls are being given preferential treatment when it comes to sport. Head of PE is a great woman, a feminist and strongly believes in girls doing football etc.. I'm all for that. She has v good intent. But it now seems to be at the expense of the boys. Girls allowed on the AstroTurf at break, not the boys. Girls football taken to local matches, not the boys. Girls hockey promoted at lunchtime, no opportunity for the boys. Boys do netball and girls do basketball. DS loves basketball so this hasn't gone down well! DS and his friends even organised a little protest one lunch time and made plaquards to say 'give boys a chance too' or something like that!

I've had lots of discussions with DS about how it's great that girls do football etc.. and there should be equal opportunities for both sexes, but he feels boys aren't given a chance. He loves sport but only sees the girls getting opportunities. He has started talking about Andrew Tate with admiration. I've told him what Andrew Tate stands for, what he's done etc.. and DS seems to understand, but his friends talk about him and DS only picks up what they say and what he sees as good stuff.

Now, maybe things have to sway this way (girls having more opportunity than boys) in society for things to eventually even out and reach equality status. But I'm worried this kind of action at school level leads to men and boys later feeling disillusioned and seeking male role models who perpetuate sexism (like Andrew Tate) in order to try and find their way. DS says half the girls don't even like football and just sit on the AstroTurf at lunch chatting (he knows some girls do enjoy the football but can't see why they can't all play together), whereas he and his friends actually want to play. He's really fed up.

This is not really a question of 'how do I handle it all' as we r finding a way. But more a statement for discussion on what's happening at school level and in wider society to men and boys. I don't want my son or his friends feeling pushed aside as woman used to be, and searching for role models in the wrong places.

This vindictive attitude towards primary aged children is nasty and counter-productive.

In what way is that vindictive?

But these 11 year old boys aren't the oppressors of women. Punishing boys for when men before them have done serves no one. It's just reinforcing the division.

I would be concentrating more on their attitude and believing in what Andrew Tate says than what sport they can play. I would be talking to school about that (although I am sure they are already aware). School need to be letting parents know what their Y6 boys are watching and hope that parents do some parenting

The whole well women have been oppressed in the past so I'm glad these boys aren't allowed opportunities comes across as rather vindictive.

Now it might be the lads have over exaggerated the situ. Or maybe they lost the asteo turf for bad behaviour etc. There might be a logical reason for it all. But given that op is talking about the boys not being allowed to have sports teams for years (why is she raising this now in the last term of yr6?) then it does seem like it's aimed to deliberately take away something from boys to punish boys en masse for what men before them have done. That doesn't sit right with me.

If the kids can't play together, then split it across days or have better supervision. If the teacher has only capacity to run 1 after school football club, they need to look at getting someone in externally.

Are we meant to be raising our kids to think that they're equally valued or should we be telling boys oh now it's time to punish you for what you didn't do but your Dad might have. We won't punish your sister for what he and your GF and your GGF and your GGGGGGGGGF did, it's passed down with the penis.

"Sometimes equality IS giving certain groups that have traditionally been marginalised more opportunities

I'm not sure I agree with this.."

Trolling. Far right or far left / false flag ....its getting harder to tell.

Op doesn't want to ruin anyone's career.

How is it not vindictive?

Seems odd just how much womens football is being pushed last few years. Why? Most girls or women don't like football. All the men in my family are football mad, all the women hate it. That's not atypical.

while I usually ignore zombie threads i do have to challenge this nonsense. I'm a woman and am football mad, as are most of the women in my family. I also understand that some women (like some men!) don't like football.

And the women's game is finally getting the recognition it deserves.

I find it odd that an adult doesn't understand that people like different things.