It is common to hear people talk about the rights of the girl child. There are these groups that champion for the rights of women. Others have programs dedicated to girl empowerment. They have organized activities all over the place pushing for recognition of women and girls. They have successfully educated women to a point that it is now self defeating to think that women are still in the dark.
But does this pose a challenge to the boy child? The boy child has been left “naked”. The balance is now tilting further away in favor of the girl.
Who is to blame for this? The blame lies squarely on men and the society. This imbalance has something to do with our thoughts, beliefs and actions. We have always put man ahead and above other creatures. We find it hard to believe that boys need re-education and help. This social architecture has played negatively on the boy child.
There is this thinking that "a man must not cry." That it is an abomination for a man to seek help even when he is justified to do so. That a man must undergo hardship even when there is an alternative way. The philosophy behind this is to make the boy "hard" when he climbs to manhood.
The result of this hardness? The emergence of a society ruled by fists and muscles and not brains. The creation of a nation that thinks more of individual interests. And on the political front, creation of a rogue and thieving parliament that has nothing to do with you and me other than demonstrating how hard its upbringing was. This is what we get when we purport to harden boys in preparation for manhood.
On the other hand, the boy child suffers neglect. His plight is rarely aired. The society has internalized the feeling that boys don't have challenges hence shouldn't expect any care.
Take a look at the faces behind child protection programs and you will actually know where the boy child is heading to. Women are at the forefront advocating for the girl child. They have taken the fight out there. They have mastered the art of talking and demonstrating. Talk to any successful woman and you will hear her talk about helping a girl here or there. It seems they are looking forward to tilting the scales further in their favor.
Look at their male counterparts and you see a disorganized group. Talk to any of them and you will hear tales of looting and destruction because this is the "hardness that the society imparted on them". And you will tell me that boys should learn from these chaps.
The hope of the boy child is pegged on the changing behavior of men and society. It is time that men come out and prove that they are the true role models of boys.
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