This is an interesting report. Seems to affirm much of what has been
identified prior to now for girls. Lots of parallels with other research. I
will try to find the article. I am more than curious about possible
speculation about the boys' responses and their implications. I would hope
that we do not pass it off as not problematic in some sense and solely focus on
the problems identified for girls here.
With the recent research and writing on boys' development, Pollack's "Real
Boys," Kindlon & Thompson's "Raising Cain [got my copy yesterday] and Terry
Real's, "I Don't Want to Talk About It, " I believe that there is much to
consider with respect to boys' overestimation and looking "outside" themselves
for the causes of failure.
The "mask of masculinity" Pollack writes about and the "disconnection" that
masks men's "covert depression" according to Real, speak, to some extent, to
males' need (or rather encouragement) to gloss over their "problems" in
accordance with the traditional masculinity. Real and Pollack (and I presume
Kindlon & Thompson, as well) both suggest that problems for boys lie below the
surface of the overestimates about self. Do we have the courage to look below
the surface?
The subtitle of "Raising Cain" is, "Protecting the Emotional Lives of Boys."
The overestimation and disconnect in boys that may also be reflected in this new
study is something that warrants serious attention. It relates to so many of
the other problems we are addressing in schools and society as equity advocates.
Do those scales or levels of depression represent a continuum? Is one person's
depression more severe than another and, thus, warranting sole attention?
I often find the dialogue here focuses on the privilege of males as the
singular problem and, as such, serves to dismiss an attempt to try to contain or
locate the problems for girls and boys in the respective sets of
stereotyped messages about how to grow and develop. It is a perspective that
serves to deny problems for boys and to deny that stereotypes likewise
interrupt healthy development for males in our culture. I am interested in
understanding how we develop pedagogies and learning environments that are
mutually beneficial to the developmental needs and well-being of both girls
and boys. There is plenty of evidence to the contrary in the elementary
experience of many boys. I am seeking dialogue, not diatribe. There is
nothing singular about these issues that we are addressing.
We cannot afford to stand by and simply try to quantify which gender has been
hurt the most...that is the divisive argument now being set out by groups such
as the American Enterprise Institute and conservative women's groups
(Independent Women's Forum & Women's Freedom Network). They are asking "What
About the Boys?" or "Where Are the Boys? " but their intent is more aimed at
driving a wedge in the efforts of equity advocates, not to change educational
practice or push for educational reform that benefits both genders. For
instance, nothing in their literature speaks to the unyielding standards of
traditional masculinity or how homophobia polices boys' behavior. (In "Raising
Cain," Thompson relates that "Homophobia is a force stronger than gravity for
adolescent boys.") For them to question some of these realities in boys' lives
would be questioning many of the elements that ground the "status quo" and
privilege those groups serve to maintain.
This divisiveness is simply (or complexly) a convoluted reflection of the
divisiveness of gender stereotypes...they all serve to maintain things as they
are. But, by raising the issues related to boys, it appears more legitmate, but
offers no constructive solutions.
So, can we look at this study and others like it with a critical eye...not to
criticize, but with an eye toward seeking to understand how our traditional
views of the masculine and the feminine serve the best interest of very few. I
would like to see us create a dialogical container large enough to hold these
often disparate perspectives. They are anything but that...they are more
accurately variations on a theme. Can we try to address the multiplicity of
these issues in ways that benefit all without homogenizing the approaches
required?
Well, I have gone on far too long this morning. I hope we can "chew" on this
for a while. And, if you haven't looked at any of the books I have referred to,
I encourage you to do so. Not because they all speak some immutable truth about
boys, but because they represent the best we have at this point to expand our
dialogue about the needs of girls and boys...our daughters and sons.
If you have made it this far...thanks for listening.
Craig Flood
NYS Career Options Institute
CFlood@aol.com
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