Results

Through my research, I have found that teachers have differentiated expectations of girls and boys in the classroom. Teachers expect girls to be compliant and boys to be disruptive and defiant. Unfortunately, as boys view school as a place to negotiate their masculinity they can become oppositional and disruptive. I have found that boys have to make sure that other boys see them as tough. I gave my male students a survey that asked these questions:

• It is important for a boy to act like nothing is wrong, even when something is bothering them.


• I can respect a boy who backs down from a fight.


• Boys should not let it show when their feelings are hurt.


• A boy never needs to hit another guy to get respect.


• If a boy tells people his worries, he will look weak.


• It is important for a boy to go after what he wants, even if it hurt others.


• It is embarrassing for a boy to ask for help. It is important for a boy to talk about his feelings, even if people laugh at him.


• Boys should let other boys know they are tough.


• Girls should always respect boys.

The boys could answer 1=disagree a lot, 2=disagree, 3=agree, 4=agree a lot. 14 boys took the survey. I was pleased to learn that 11 of the 14 boys agreed or agreed a lot that boys don't have to hit each other to gain respect and 10 out of 14 agreed or agreed a lot that boys should talk about their feelings even if others laugh. It was nice to learn that 10 of 14 and 12 of 14 disagreed a lot or disagreed that boys will look weak if they tell people their worries, it is important to go after what you want even if it hurts others and it is embarrassing to ask for help. It was interesting to note that 8 out of the 14 agreed or agreed a lot that boys should not let it show if their feeling were hurt. 10 of 14 and 9 of 14 agreed or agreed a lot that boys should let other boys know they are tough and that girls should always respect boys. Unfortunately the latter responses lend themselves to boys' navigation of hegemonic masculinity development.