“Boys have few advocates in Canada,” wrote Dr. Fred Mathews in a 2003 editorial in which he cited alarming trends in juvenile crime, learning disabilities, graduation rates and suicide.
“Girls are fortunate to have the women's movement behind them to promote their issues. No similar support exists for young males,” he wrote. “By almost every measure of well-being, boys trail girls in Canada and yet we fail to acknowledge boys' issues. What keeps boys and young men off the social policy radar screen? We are, after all, speaking about children and youth.”
Seven years later, has anything changed? We checked in with Dr. Mathews for a live chat and Q&A Wednesday. (Read his bio below)
Guest: My comment is that too often female critics cite the top 1 or 2% of earners (CEOs and that group) to argue that men are doing as well as ever. It’s the bottom 80% of men who are hurting. And, yes, without active male voices or movements to establish this, it is a fact that seems to be routinely dismissed. Any thoughts?
Dr. Fred Mathews: I would certainly agree that the lack of an organized men's movement has hindered any real social progress in bringing boys and men's stories into the national dialogue on wellness. I am also of the opinion that such a movement would have to be very pluralistic in nature as there is no such thing as a homogeneous group called "boys" or "men". There is so much diversity in our society and the needs of boys and men will differ depending on so many other factors besides gender. For example, race, class, religion, socio-economic status, ability, mental health status, etc.
Brodie Fenlon/The Globe and Mail: I'm going to group the next two questions together because they're related. These readers basically want to know what schools should be doing to better serve male students. Jodi Mother feels physical education is key.
Fraser M.: How can our elementary and secondary schools system better serve male students to increase graduation rates and enrollment in post-secondary education?
Jodi Mother: How can we get our public schools to increase the amount of time children spend in Phys Ed class and similar activities? I am so frustrated by the lack of response to this issue and I don't know what to do!
Dr. Fred Mathews: On the subject of Phys Ed, it may require a well organized group of activist parents working alongside young people with an equally strong interest to lobby the local school board and the Ministry of Education to change the situation. Graduation rates is a much more complicated issue with many factors that must be addressed. I am of the opinion that the school system does not and has never understood completely the learning needs of male children and youth. When we focused on girls we learned what they needed, implemented it and found great success in terms of higher graduation rates. I believe the same time, energy and resources now needs to be given to boys and young men.
