Experts Urge Emotional Support for Boys to Prevent Violence in Schools

As the new school year approaches, educators and experts emphasize the need to address violence, safety, and gender relations among adolescents. While boys are often warned to respect boundaries and avoid aggression, there is less focus on what emotional expressions are permitted for them. Boys frequently receive limited emotional vocabulary, being encouraged to suppress fear, vulnerability, or sadness with phrases like "be strong" or "get over it." This lack of emotional legitimacy can leave boys unable to express feelings of fear, hurt, or rejection, which may underlie anger and aggressive behavior.

The article highlights the challenges boys face growing up amid post-pandemic uncertainty, ongoing conflict, social isolation, and a culture that rewards power and visibility. It stresses the importance of creating safe, judgment-free spaces for boys to talk openly about their feelings before crises arise. Informal moments, such as during sports or casual conversations, are more effective for fostering emotional dialogue than direct questioning during stressful times.

The piece also notes that girls receive mixed messages, being taught to expect sensitivity from partners while simultaneously being influenced by cultural ideals of strength and control, which can discourage them from accepting male vulnerability. The author calls for broadening conversations about masculinity and emotional expression to prevent violence rather than merely reacting to it.

Educational programs like "Chibur" by the "No to Violence" association are cited as examples of initiatives promoting empathy, listening skills, and healthy relationships among teenagers. The article concludes that sustained efforts to engage boys emotionally can help identify and support them before problems escalate into violence or crisis.

Summary: Ahead of the school year, experts call for expanding emotional support for boys to reduce violence, urging open dialogue and empathy-building in schools. Boys often lack permission to express vulnerability, which can fuel aggression, and new educational programs aim to address this gap early.

Points: - Boys are often discouraged from expressing fear or vulnerability, limiting their emotional range. - Suppressed emotions like hurt and rejection can manifest as anger or aggression. - Creating safe, informal spaces for boys to share feelings helps prevent crises. - Girls receive conflicting messages about expecting sensitivity and valuing strength. - Educational programs promote empathy and healthy relationships to reduce violence. - Early emotional engagement with boys can prevent escalation to violent behavior.

Topic: education israel_relevant: true Entities: {"people":["Itamar Blotner"],"organizations":["No to Violence"],"places":[]}