The Vancouver Sun, July 2001
Q: How come there aren’t any empowerment programs for boys? Why is all the focus on girls?
L.R., Ladner, BC
Saleema and Teresa: Hmmm…this is a really good question. You are right that most empowerment programs target girls. Programs for girls have been around for years (i.e. Girl Guides, sports teams, and extra-curricular activities) but only in the last decade have they focused specifically on topics such as assertiveness training, body image, boundary setting, self-assurance and healthy relationships. Some would say that girls need this information more than boys do. Indisputably, girls have been valued stereotypically for superficial characteristics such as their appearance and their bodies (tune into the Miss Universe pageant or check out some of the ads in women’s magazines if you need convincing!). This puts them at high risk for self esteem issues. Boys, on the other hand, have been valued stereotypically for their skills, abilities and intelligence. As a result, a boy with less than a perfect body will still be appreciated for other qualities. This is not to say that boys can’t benefit from being empowered—they need this now more than ever in order to create a healthy society. For example, boys are at extremely high risk when it comes to violence. They need anger management and conflict resolution skills in order to stay safe despite pressure to portray a powerful image through violence. Boys also need to learn that healthy self esteem comes from within, not from having power over someone or from external qualities such as a "phat ride" (for those of you who didn’t get a chance to read our invaluable dictionary of terms for parents, that means a nice car).
What do you think? Do girls need empowering more than boys do? Are boys being left out? What do they need?