The Boy Crisis is a book that packs a lot of information between its covers. Co-authors Warren Farrell (Why Men Are the Way They Are) and John Gray (Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus) provide a wealth of data, analysis, and advice on the many areas in which boys and young men are struggling in the modern day and age.
Much of the information presented in The Boy Crisis isn’t new. For instance, we have known for many years that boys are falling behind girls in school. Boys are more likely to have ADHD diagnoses. But the equally important issues of girls and young women have overshadowed these facts.
The Boy Crisis isn’t a takedown of feminism. The authors do, however, point out how boys are also harmed by sexism and male stereotypes.
Farrell and Gray also emphasize the importance of the father being involved, especially for boys.
They lay out the harsh truth in statistics: boys without actively engaged fathers are more likely to:
- Drink
- Do drugs
- Drop out of school
- Be imprisoned
Fatherlessness among boys has been implicated in everything from mass shootings to ISIS recruitments.
Likewise, gendered expectations for boys also have powerful and painful repercussions for our sons. A “purpose void” is caused when boys lack a sense of meaning to their lives. Yet they are still being held to old-fashioned and outdated ideals of masculinity and manhood, despite negative repercussions this may cause them.
The crisis of boys is a health crisis for the U.S. and the world.
This makes The Boy Crisis a timely and meaningful read for parents that need advice for raising boys, as well as educators and policymakers. If you want more information on the modern struggles of boys, I’d recommend picking up this book.
