Overview

• Barack Obama said progressives have focused too much on boys’ shortcomings and called for recognizing their strengths through targeted support.
• He noted that prioritizing opportunities for girls has unintentionally left boys undervalued, which he argued can hinder women if boys’ upbringing is ignored.
• Obama warned that boys who feel unseen may be drawn to harmful ideologies that claim to explain their grievances.
• Experts including J. Ryan Fuller, Ph.D., have linked failures in raising boys to rising loneliness, unemployment, opioid use and suicide rates among young men.
• Psychiatrists recommend active listening, emotional education and community engagement as essential steps to build resilience in boys.