Bullying

When it comes to bullying in schools, particularly among teenage boys, their masculinity is always a factor. Whena boy's masculinity is in question, so is their pride, because that's what society deems as important. But how is masculinity favored and therefore reinforced in high schools? These strict gender roles aren't just created and recreated by high school boys and their peers, it is taught to us over and over again on an institutional level. From the moment we enter the school system as 4 year olds, everything is not only gendered (toys, games, traits). But there are strict gender roles we are given and constantly taught, with phrases such as "boys will be boys", and the differences boys and girls are taught about themselves based on their gender. After a while the teachers and parents no longer need to do the policing of masculinity, the peers will pick up that job. C.J Pascoe's book Dude, You're a Fag, gives numerous examples that reflect what each one of us has witnessed: boys and men policing the "manliness" of other boys and men. To stop this cycle of bullying, we must also take responsibility of whatever parts we play in excusing dangerous masculinity among boys and begin breaking down rigid gender roles. Some steps to take could be not using the excuse of "boys will be boys" when overly aggressive young boys behave wrongly, to stop labeling more feminine traits as inherently "weak" or "passive", deeming them undesirable to possess, and stop gendering unnecessary things.