I have a father like most fathers of females. When I was a teenage girl I often heard about how horrible the teenage boys around me were because he remembers "what I was like at that age". The result has been that all of my boyfriends have seen a wooden "gravestone" in the front yard and were threatened with being thrown on the roof.
Is this a fair image of the minds of teenage boys? Are they really completely motivated by sexual urges and jackass ideas of women? No doubt some of them are (I'm pretty sure I've been hit on them many a time), but in general this seems like a very negative stereotype to attach to teenage boys.
New studies, which support the old studies, suggest that teenage boys are motivated by other emotions, such as love and attraction, rather than simple hormones. I like to think this is true. Yes, sex has an overrated reputation on the high school level, but I believe this hype is similar on both sides of the equation, not just the male side.
What the Times article brings up is something that I fear for every stereotype: the self-fulfilling prophecy. Just like in my blog about Generation Me (The Heathen's Guide to: PRIDE), I believe if society tells you a pre-determined destiny based on assumptions, there is little doubt you will begin playing the role assigned. If we tell teenage boys (through media like movies and negative fatherly associations) that we think of them as horny jackasses then how long do we have to wait before they appear to fit the role? Not to say their motivations will change too dramatically. I would suggest they still have a more honorable underlying motivation, but on the outside they think people expect them to be after sex so they will pretend to be after sex.
It reminds me of when those teenage boys were little boys who saw their sisters or female classmates who played with dolls. I remember having boys wander over to my pre-school tea parties and get close enough to curiously watch the activities and then quickly run off when the other boys accused him of having cooties. We teach boys to want to play Cowboys and Indians and Tonka trucks and act like it is odd when they show interest in playing house. Not to say this is always true, but is it not often true?
This is where I place it to the progressiveu bloggers. Weigh in on this issue. What are the real motivations for teenage boys? Do we tend to fill the roles assigned to us?
Well to give you an opinion from someone who is an expert on this (I am a teenage boy), I always want to be loved. I feel like stereotypes about guys and girls who make a decision not to get to know me miss out. I am a pretty sensitive guy when you really get down to it, but sometimes on the exterior I look rougher than I am. It is tough being a teenage guy these days.
Ross Kressel
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/rosskressel
I think all sterotypes in general lead to negative results, just like this, as individuals are typecast into a generality. No, of course not all teen boys are like that, but I understand where your dad is coming from, as it is his job to assume the worst in order to protect you. But why protect the girls and not the boys? There is the sterotype (which may be true) that boys are usually the agressors, and more likely to pressure the girl into a sexual relationship. There's also the sterotype that girls get more emotionally attacted and can be hurt easier.
"There is the sterotype (which may be true) that boys are usually the agressors, and more likely to pressure the girl into a sexual relationship."
This is very true. Everyone always assumes the boy is the one who puts the pressure on. I know from experience that is not always true. I've been on the "aggressor" end of a relationship. Girls can be just as good at putting the pressure for sex on the table.
Think about it...
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tomorrowtoday
I've found most boys don't exactly fit the stereotype. It just doesn't help when there are those boys who do. But most boys don't seem to be after sex- they just want someone they can hang out and spend time with.
If you keep telling a boy how sex-driven and stupid he is, that's how he's going to turn out.
I think hormones do play a role. they are more likely to want sex and a lot more than the average female because it is simply natural. however, i do not think it is in teenage boys nature to be jackasses about it and jerks. like the media and many other people ( like dads) protray guys to be like.