Moms of sons - do you guide your son to be respectful of girls?

[Anonymous]

I'm a mom of two young DDs who tries to instill self respect and self advocacy in them when it comes to relationships with boys.
A friend posted this on facebook and made me wonder if parents go out of their way to teach middle school boys respect for the female peers.
Although this story is probably "made for the internet," it has a good lesson....


http://stuffhappens.us/a-boy-at-school-snapped-her-15430/

[Anonymous]

I teach all of my kids to be respectful of everyone. Why are girls special?

[Anonymous]

I find this question insulting of both girls and boys.

[Anonymous]

A terrifyingly high number of men have committed rape.

4.5% of the men in the United States is an incredibly high number – that translates into over six million men.

I wonder if we did a better job of teaching respect starting at a young age, would this number be lower?

[Anonymous]

I actually think the article has nothing to do with boys vs. girls, it about being allowed to defend yourself in school.

I teach my kids they can defend themselves, like the girl did. If the school does nothing about kids that bully/hit/tease/taunt you defend yourself.

[Anonymous]

You should really be teaching your girls to respect themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should really be teaching your girls to respect themselves.

Read the first sentence of the first posting, please.

[Anonymous]

Yes, very much so. Beyond teaching them respect, I have drilled into them that the idea that the girl is somehow the goalie while the boy is the one trying to score is ridiculous and as outdated as concepts can be (and yet still so prevalent).

Especially since both of my boys are athletes and too many people still believe that rules do not apply to football players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I teach all of my kids to be respectful of everyone. Why are girls special?

mThis.

[Anonymous]

Mom walked into that school meeting with a huge chip on her shoulder and an enormous sense of self importance. Instead of listening to both sides of the story (and there are always two sides) she decided to view everyone but her daughter as guilty.

Maybe her daughter had snapped the waist band of this boy's boxers first. Maybe he thought that he was just dorking around when he snapped the girl's bra. But we'll never know because Mama Bear came in and started using intimidation and fighting words and seemed happy that the boy's mom was disolved into tears.

In answer to the question, of course I've taught my boys to respect girls. In fact, I've taught them to view girls as equals, friends, allies. But they are to expect the same thing in return. No less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mom walked into that school meeting with a huge chip on her shoulder and an enormous sense of self importance. Instead of listening to both sides of the story (and there are always two sides) she decided to view everyone but her daughter as guilty.

Maybe her daughter had snapped the waist band of this boy's boxers first. Maybe he thought that he was just dorking around when he snapped the girl's bra. But we'll never know because Mama Bear came in and started using intimidation and fighting words and seemed happy that the boy's mom was disolved into tears.

In answer to the question, of course I've taught my boys to respect girls. In fact, I've taught them to view girls as equals, friends, allies. But they are to expect the same thing in return. No less.

It was probably a made for internet story - meaning false ....but a good conversation stater.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mom walked into that school meeting with a huge chip on her shoulder and an enormous sense of self importance. Instead of listening to both sides of the story (and there are always two sides) she decided to view everyone but her daughter as guilty.

Maybe her daughter had snapped the waist band of this boy's boxers first. Maybe he thought that he was just dorking around when he snapped the girl's bra. But we'll never know because Mama Bear came in and started using intimidation and fighting words and seemed happy that the boy's mom was disolved into tears.

In answer to the question, of course I've taught my boys to respect girls. In fact, I've taught them to view girls as equals, friends, allies. But they are to expect the same thing in return. No less.

FYI, Brian and Jeff are the names of the two boys who snapped my bra repeatedly in seventh grade social studies. I was 12, and did nothing to them besides get instructed by the teacher to sit in front of them. I complained about Brian repeatedly to my teacher before also complaining toy guidance counselor and the assistant principal and my teachers solution was to switch Brian's seat with his friend Jeffs seat. I only wish I'd punched Brian on the face. I did nothing to deserve what they did and I don't care if they were "dorking around."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find this question insulting of both girls and boys.

+1

[Anonymous]

I teach my son not to touch others without consent. That includes boys and girls. Everyone.

Our household mantra is, "courtesy is owed, respect is earned, and love is given." Courtesy is owed to all. And he's owed courtesy as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find this question insulting of both girls and boys.

+1

+2