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Presented by
Judy Chu, Ed.D.
Educator, Advisor, Author, Researcher
This lecture considers boys' development through a relational framework, which calls into question the traditional goals of individuation and separation in the name of growth, maturity, and (for boys) manhood; examines the implications of boys' gender socialization (e.g., towards conventions of masculinity that emphasize physical toughness, emotional stoicism, and projected self-sufficiency) in light of infant studies that highlight boys' fundamental capacity and primary desire for close, meaningful relationships with other people; and acknowledges that boys' relational capabilities are not "feminine" weaknesses but human strengths that are essential to their health and happiness, and serve them well in various social contexts throughout their lifespan.
Educational Objectives
As a result of participating in this activity, learners should be able to:
1. Recognize boys' relational capabilities (what boys are inherently capable of knowing and doing in their relationships)
2. Explain how boys' gender socialization (e.g., towards social constructions of masculinity and culturally-specific norms of masculine behavior) can constrain their self-expression, undermine their sense of integrity, and hinder their relationships
3. Discuss ways that practitioners, parents, and other adults who have boys' best interests at heart can better support boys' efforts to preserve and develop their connections to themselves and to other people in their lives
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