The Three Myths

William Pollack discusses three myths about boys. They are:

1. Boys will be Boys

This myth says that boys will naturally be agressive and violent because of their testosterone. It says that basically they are a slave to their biology, and that no amount of nurturing will keep them from their insensativity, risky behaviors, and aggression.

2. Boys Should be Boys

This myth says that boys must fullfill the stereotype and become that agrressive man. He should never act like a girl but always be manly.

3. Boys are Toxic

This third myth says that their is something inherently wrong with boys, treating them as if they were psychologically unaware, emotionally unsocialized creatures.

In his book he gives answers to each of these myths. I highly recomend this book to everyone.

What is this?

This blog was created as a final project for my Gender and Contemporary Issues class. My goal in this blog is to discuss the issues of boyhood, and the gender stereotyping that we put on them.

In his book Real Boys: The Truths Behind the Myths, William Pollack says, "There are three major myths about boys that persist in all kinds of situations and among all sorts of people, even among the most thoughtful and progressive families, schools and communities. They are so deeply embedded in the culture, that without realizing it, they oftern short-cuircuit aour ability to see and love the real boy before us - the true boy behind these old faschoned ideas."

Over the cours of this I hope to discuss these myths and other stereotyps, and find the reason we have these "old fashined ideas."