Boys Will Be Boys: Breaking the Link Between Masculinity and Violence

by Myriam Miedzian

Book Overview

In this book, Miedzian provides a thorough investigation of the numerous factors influencing aggression and violence in American males. In addition, she also provides descriptions and proposals for... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1590560353
• ISBN13: 9781590560358
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: Lantern Books
• Length: 386 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.7" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

A Profound Work Pursuing a Priority Issue.

Boys Will Be Boys: Breaking the Link Between Masculinity and Violence addresses our society's attitudes towards violence and males. It questions the acceptance of violence as a way of life. It addresses fatherhood and its effect on sons. Miedzian looks at school programs that work and frankly discusses the impact our media and commercial market have on our children. She lists countless examples, including words to songs our teens are listening to. Boys Will Be Boys is a profound work pursuing a priority issue.

Reread this book!

I have just purchased and reread Myriam Miedzian's 2002 revised edition of this book, and wish to say that her new introduction is more timely than ever, and it has given me additional insights into the mindset of the men who got us into the war in Iraq. The section entitled "What About Our National Security?" is a great sequel to the original Chapter 2: ""Real Men", "Wimps" and Our National Security". Boys Will Be Boys points out that obsession with toughness, dominance and power, a lack of concern for human life, no interest in understanding how our adversaries think and how our actions affect theirs, all combined with the undue influence of economic interests, lead us into unnecessary and deadly wars.The book goes way beyond the present political situation. The chapter entitled "Boys Will Be Boys" provides a balanced and well-researched discussion of how biology and environment interact to lead boys and men to commit most violent acts. I appreciated the fact that the author makes concrete suggestions for change to decrease the violence in boys and men with chapters on the importance of good fathering, on educational programs, and on the topic of violent entertainment and boys.One doesn't have to agree with each and every recommendation Dr. Miedzian makes to appreciate the issues she raises and the information she brings forth. Her book is an extensive section of endnotes and bibliography, is clear and well-written and utterly fascinating.Peggy Levison, Ph.D.

Teaching Non-Violence

This book is divided into three sections. The introduction (first three chapters) is about violence and it's basis in our culture and biology. Myriam Miedzian became interested in this work of non-violence through the role model of her peaceful father and the horrors he had to endure over his lifetime in war. She has become aware that the majority of violent acts (criminal, domestic, and in war) are perpetrated by men. She represents a very balanced view, which works towards equality and change.Section one is about parenting (especially fathering) in a way that teaches non-violence. Section two is a fascinating education about school programs to teach about non-violence through responsible parenting, and ending bullying, war, and bigotry. Section three is about the media and the encouragement of violence through sports, TV, movies, music, wrestling TV, "violence toys" (including video games), and marketing to children.I highly recommend this book to parents, and all people who work with children.

This is the basic book for raising your son

This book presents in a way that no one can argue with, the clear links between how we treat and train our boys and why they act out later with violence. Boys will be boys, we say, excusing the inexcusable... because it was taught to us by our parents too.Break the chain! Break the chains that tie so many young men in prison for violent actions. Stop the cycle that says, "I couldn't help it. It's just natural to get angry, to hit, to ..." Save a boy from this curse. Let him have a nurturing father (-figure), let him play with dolls and practice caring for others (as a future father of America), let him learn how to feel and talk. Don't lock him up!Let him learn to be a real, caring man.

This book exposes how culture infiltrates boys' minds

Boys Will Be Boys shatters the American assumption that masculinity and violence need exist hand in hand. This book describes masculine violence within the realms of military policy, criminal behavior, and boyhood. It details how boys are being raised violent and are not necessarily born with more violent tendencies than girls. This is a must read for anyone interested in gender studies or childcare.