Brian Sundberg
Period-1
5/5/11
Gender Timed Writing
With an overwhelming amount of boys falling behind in school, serious questions are
being raised putting the schools accountable. The central issues affecting boys in today’s culture
is the expectation to live up to the masculine or manly stereotypes. These unjust stereotypes are
seriously affecting boys and young men across the nation. In the article “Putting Down the Gun”
by Rebecca Walker, her son feels like he either has to fall under the stereotype of as either a jock
or computer nerd. This young boy feels isolated from his school because he does not meet the
stereotype of being “cool.” The essence of Rebecca Walker’s argument is that boys don’t have to
succumb to these stereotypes and still be considered “masculine.” I can relate to Rebecca
Walker’s son on so many levels. In elementary school and even the beginning of middle school
my own parents would not let me watch certain shows on television because they were afraid
that it would affect me adversely. The next day at school when all the kids were talking about the
most recent episode I would feel left out because I was not allowed to watch the show. Rebecca
Walker’s article only strengthens my argument that the central issues affecting boys in today’s
culture is the expectation to live up to the masculine stereotype. I will uncover other ways these
stereotypes are affecting boys, and I will recommend how to possibly fix this issue.
In the article “Mind over Muscle,” the author, David Brooks, says that men are
“imprisoned by their anti-intellectual machismo.” However, it is simply not true that boys are
anti-education. The stereotypes portrayed in the television and in the movies only set boys back
farther and it becomes harder for them to break these stereotypes. These stereotypes are making
boys and young men afraid to excel at school because they are afraid that they will be seen as
“losers” or “nerds.” These preconceived notions about boy’s not wanting to read or do well in
school could lead to the “gender disparity” that Ann Hulbert was discussing in the article “Boy
Problems.” There is a widening gap between boys and girls in college graduation rate and
standardized test scores. Although I grant that men, historically, take more blue collar jobs, I still
maintain that the masculine stereotypes force men to take these types of jobs because then they
will fell like a “man.” With this being said, educators across the nation are scrambling to try to
figure out how to get boys interested in school. Several people are stepping forward and
suggesting that we “de-feminize” the school curriculum. I have learned from personal experience
that a lot of the readings required in the English classes a heroine or the main character is female.
If they are trying to appeal guys, they are doing a poor job at it. Guys like to read action books
that will keep you reading and wanting to flip the pages, not some book that makes them fall
asleep after three pages. If we want to see this trend reverse we first need to get boys interested
in school so they have the opportunity to succeed. The authors David Brooks, Rebecca Walker,
and Ann Hulbert would support my stance that masculine stereotypes do more harm than good
for boys.
In conclusion I would like to offer one way to possibly fix the issue facing boys. Again,
in the article “Putting down the Gun” Rebecca Walker makes a suggestion to her son’s school
that teachers should not teach masculine stereotypes in their courses. This is where I believe is
the root of the evil. The masculine stereotypes are taught in school and it will continue to haunt
boys and men throughout their lives. I suggest that teachers should dismiss all male stereotypes
in their teaching curriculum, and they should acknowledge that you don’t have to be a jock or a
computer nerd and still be considered a man. Grown-ups and teachers are mistaken because the
overlook the harm and stress that masculine stereotypes can do to young boys.