Boys will be boys
The term “boys will be boys” is used to indicate that it is not surprising or unusual when men or boys behave in energetic, rough, or improper ways. You shouldn’t be too hard on them for staying out so late, because, boys will be boys.[1] This is a perspective on gender norms and identity that stems from a societal perpetration of said norms. It could be viewed as a subsection of Hegemonic Masculinity, and has been used to justify, excuse, and write off aggressive and inappropriate behaviors from men for decades. This perspective is reproduced through the process of Socialization, and has negative consequences on the people who are on the receiving end of the inappropriate behaviors that it excuses.
Hegemonic Masculinity
First defined by Raewyn Connell in 1987, Hegemonic Masculinity has been widely accepted by scholars and has been re-conceptualized by many throughout history.[2] Though a variety of definitions are accessible, all definitions of Hegemonic Masculinity include: the power, dominance, and hierarchical position of men, their reproduction and legitimatizing of their social dominance, and the subordination of women.
Socialization Process
The masculine identity that comprises the boys will be boys perspective is not something men are inherently born with, rather, it is acquired through a thorough and repetitive process called socialization. This can be defined as the process through which children acquire the values, standards, skills, knowledge, and behaviors that are regarded as appropriate for their present and future role in their particular culture.[3] Children are socialized through direct teaching or discipline, indirect teaching or modeling, and responses to their behaviors by others. This process is effected by parents, teachers, peers, media, and many other forms of social reinforcement. Socialization can be broken down even further into the term, gender self-socialization. This can be explained as the process through which children’s biases to behave in accord with their gender identity is strengthened by their greater attention to and involvement with entities and activities deemed appropriate to their gender.[3] Because the boys will be boys perspective is reinforced in children at a young age, it can be seen as part of a socially approved belief system.
Male Perpetrated Violence Against Women
The boys will be boys belief system directly affects women and men that do not conform to the masculine identity that this perspective perpetuates.[4] Women are the victims of many aggressive behaviors by men ranging from sexual harassment to rape.[5] The high rate of violence against women by men is made worse by rape myths which primary function is to justify male sexual aggression against women.[5] The masculine identity presented by the boys will be boys belief system creates a distorted idea of sexual aggression, that men can’t control their urges and that this aggression is natural and just part of their genetic make-up. This dominant male identity, blurs boundaries between normal heterosexual behavior and rape.[5] Because of this, men who aggressively pursue sex and continue even if the woman says no are seen as simply being a “man” and following the socially approved masculine script. In a meta-analysis of studies that examine the relationship between sexual aggression and acceptance of the masculine ideology, Murnen, Wright, and Kaluzny (2002) found a significant correlation between the two variables.[6]
Female Victims and Harassment Justification
Apart from the high rate of women that are victims of male perpetrated violence, because the boys will be boys perspective is widely accepted in society, women in-turn begin to neutralize and misrepresent inappropriate actions from men. A study by Weiss on 944 sexual victimization narratives from the NCVS (National Crime Victimization Survey) show that one in five respondents who claim to have been the victim of a wide range of unwanted sexual situations used some kind of excuse to justify the perpetrator’s behavior and explain the situation as not the aggressors fault.[5] Such justifications by women include social vocabularies or truisms that “everyone knows”, reflecting the extent that this subsection of hegemonic masculinity is interwoven into our communal narrative.
Future Efforts in Socialization and Media
Though the boys will be boys perspective is widely accepted and has been detrimental societies efforts to achieve gender equality, there is room for interventions. The outlook can and has been interrogated by propagating a critical and equal perspective on gender, which includes men in the discussion.[7] Many artists, activists, scholars and frustrated parents are beginning to stand up against this closed minded perspective of the male identity. Professional photographer Kristen McGoey recently started a photo series called #aboycantoo. Through this outlet, McGoey shows boys who are breaking the stereotypical masculine identity and indulging in their dreams, pursuing activities that are usually viewed as female interests. Along with Kristen McGoey, actress Mariska Hargitay, is taking a stand against the boys will be boys perspective by founding the Joyful Heart Foundation to help the healing process of sexual assault survivors. Parents, teachers, peers, and the media are beginning to stop contributing to gender inequalities by ceasing the reproduction of this hegemonic masculinity that explains men and boys inappropriate actions by affirming that boys will be boys.
See Also
- Hyper-masculinity in School & Sport
- Masculinity as Homophobia
- Hegemonic Masculinity
- GRSJ224/Rape Myths in the Context of Sex Education
- Rape Culture
- Gender Stereotypes in the Media
- ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boys%20will%20be%20boys
- ↑ Hearn, J., Nordberg, M., Andersson, K., & Balkmar, D. (2012). Hegemonic masculinity and beyond. Men and Masculinities, 15(1), 31; 31.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Siegler, R., DeLoache, J., & Eisenberg, N. (2010). How children develop (Third Edition ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
- ↑ Herrera, M. C., Expósito, F., & Moya, M. (2012). Negative reactions of men to the loss of power in gender relations: Lilith vs. eve. European Journal of Psychology Applied to Legal Context, 4(1), 17-42.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Weiss, K. G. (2009). “Boys will be boys” and other gendered accounts. Violence Against Women, 15(7), 810-834.
- ↑ Murnen, S. K., Wright, C., & Kaluzny, G. (2002). If “Boys will be boys,” then girls will be victims? A meta-analytic review of the research that relates masculine ideology to sexual aggression. Sex Roles, 46(11), 359-375.
- ↑ Bhana, D. (2009). “Boys will be boys”: What do early childhood teachers have to do with it? Educational Review, 61(3), 327-339.