Boys

“As an activist in the women’s movement, I’m proud of expanding life choices for our daughters But no one did the same for our sons.” — Best-selling author Gail Sheehy

ENDING THE BOY CRISIS

The “Boy Crisis” refers to the plummeting academic performance, depression, addiction, and other problems among boys.

• Video: Warren Farrell:  The Critical Role of Fathers in Addressing the Boy Crisis
• Press Releases:
  • UN Pact for the Future Discards Reason and Fairness, Ignores 12 Areas of Male Inequality
  • Men and Boys Council Calls on Candidates to Address ‘Boy Crisis’ During Upcoming Political Campaign
  • Melinda French Gates Announces $20 Million to Promote Educational Equality for Boys and Men
  • Gender Equality or Gender Bias? World Bank Strategy Ignores Male Disadvantages
  • Men Likely Will Determine the Outcome of the November Presidential Election
  • Our Neglect of Men is Having Devastating Consequences on Families, the Economy, and More

Strategies and Solutions:

• Celebrate International Boys Day, observed each year on May 16, and World Children’s Day, observed on November 20.
• Courageously speak out when boys’ issues are shortchanged or ignored.
• See: 50 affirmations to instill confidence for your teenage sons

CHILD LABOR AND HAZARDOUS WORK

• International Labor Organization: Among all boys ages 5 to 17, 11.2% are in child labor, compared to 7.8% of girls.
• Child labor is more prevalent among boys than girls at every age:
  • 5-11 years: Boys: 10.9%; Girls: 8.4%
  • 12-14 years: Boys: 11.0%; Girls 7.5%
  • 15-17 years:  Boys: 12.2%; Girls: 6.8%
• Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the highest prevalence of children in child labor. Europe and North America have the lowest prevalent of child labor.
• Hazardous Work: 79.0 million children are involved in work that directly endangers
  their health, safety, and moral development:
  • Boys: 5.8%
  • Girls: 3.6%

CHILD SOLDIERS

• According to the 2023 Report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (A/78//247):
  • Abducted: 62.1% male
  • Killed or maimed: 73.0% male
  • Child victims of at least one “grave” violation: 74.4% male
• UN Optional Protocol of the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict.

SEXTORTION

• Sextortion is when an online predator tricks someone into giving them nude images, and then demands money or more images–threatening to distribute the images if the victim doesn’t comply.
• 90% of sextortion victims are males.
• 79% of sextortion incidents occurred on Instagram or Snapchat.
• News: Financial Sextortion Schemes Mostly Target Teenage Boys

UNDERNUTRITION

• A review of 44 studies conducted in 30 countries around the world found undernutrition — wasting, stunting and underweight — is more likely to affect boys than girls. The authors conclude, “These findings challenge commonly held assumptions within the nutrition community that girls are more likely to be affected by undernutrition.”