Teach Your Son!

Building a Culture of Respect and Equality

In today’s world, fostering respect and empathy towards women is more crucial than ever. As society progresses, it’s essential that we focus on nurturing our sons to become responsible, respectful individuals who contribute positively to the world around them. This article outlines practical steps for teaching young men about respect, equality, and empathy, ensuring they grow up to be allies in the fight against gender-based violence, sexual crimes and discrimination.

Respect and Equality

• Respect for Women: Teach your son to see women as equals in every aspect of life. This means treating them with dignity, acknowledging their contributions, and valuing their voices.
• Equality in Practice: Encourage the elimination of double standards. Advocate for shared responsibilities at home and fair treatment in social and professional settings.

Creating a Safe Environment

• Awareness of Behavior: Help your son understand that many women feel unsafe due to societal norms and past experiences. Encourage him to be mindful of his actions and create safe environments.
• Acting Responsibly: Teach him to ensure his behavior does not contribute to a culture of fear or discomfort. This includes being considerate of his language, presence, and actions.
• Women-to-Men Ratio: The global average ratio of women to men is approximately 100 women for every 101 men. This slight imbalance does not diminish the importance of ensuring women feel safe around men. In some regions, particularly where gender-based violence is prevalent, the ratio is even more skewed, leading to increased vulnerability for women.
• Number of Incidents: In India, there are over 80 reported cases of crimes against women every hour. Globally, gender-based violence remains a significant issue, with millions of women affected daily. These numbers highlight the urgency for men to recognize their role in creating a safer environment for women.

Purposeful Living and Compassionate Control

• Purposeful Living: Encourage your son to seek a sense of purpose beyond power and control. A fulfilling life is guided by values, empathy, and a desire to make a positive impact.
• Control with Compassion: Explain that true control comes from mastering one’s emotions and actions, not from dominating others. This control should be exercised with compassion and understanding.

Understanding Gender Issues

• Education on Gender Inequality: Equip your son with knowledge about the challenges women face due to systemic gender inequalities. This includes issues like the gender pay gap and gender-based violence.
• Empathy and Support: Encourage him to be an ally in the fight for gender equality by supporting women’s rights and advocating for change.

Self-Education and Leading by Example

• Self-Education: Before teaching others, your son should educate himself on gender issues, respect, and equality. This involves reading, listening to women’s experiences, and reflecting on his own behavior.
• Leading by Example: Once educated, he should use his knowledge to challenge harmful behaviors and promote respect within his community.

Managing Internet Use and Avoiding Addictions

• Internet Awareness: Excessive internet use can expose your son to toxic content that reinforces negative stereotypes. Encourage him to limit his online time and critically evaluate the information consumed.
• Avoiding Addictions: Recognize the addictive nature of certain online activities, like pornography, which can distort views of relationships. Promote healthy offline activities that foster well-being.
• Dopamine Influence: Excessive internet use, especially in consuming content like social media, pornography, or online gaming, can lead to a dopamine rush that reinforces addictive behavior. This constant need for instant gratification can distort perceptions of relationships and women, leading to unhealthy behaviors. Educating men on the impact of dopamine-driven internet addiction is crucial for fostering a more balanced and respectful approach to life.

Engaging in Healthy Conversations

• Positive Dialogue: Encourage your son to engage in respectful and supportive discussions about women. Shift away from objectifying or derogatory remarks.
• Family Influence: Foster a family culture where women are respected and healthy conversations about gender issues are encouraged.

Addressing Physiological Disorders

• Understanding Disorders: Some behaviors may be linked to physiological or psychological disorders. Encourage your son to seek professional help if he struggles with anger management, addiction, or mental health issues.
• Support and Treatment: Support him in addressing these challenges and seeking the necessary treatment.

Emotional Regulation

• Emotional Regulation: Teach your son that controlling his emotions is a sign of strength. This involves recognizing triggers, practicing mindfulness, and responding thoughtfully.
• Healthy Expression: Encourage him to express emotions healthily, avoiding outbursts or violent reactions.

Exploring the World

• Real-World Experiences: Encourage your son to step out of his comfort zone and engage with diverse experiences. Volunteering, traveling, and participating in community events can broaden his perspective.
• Learning from Diversity: By exploring different cultures and communities, he can gain a deeper understanding of the diverse realities women face.

Practicing and Influencing Others

• Practice What You Preach: Encourage your son to apply his knowledge of respect and equality in daily life. This includes challenging friends who exhibit disrespectful behavior towards women.
• Positive Influence: Strive to create a positive influence within his social circles, promoting respectful interactions and encouraging others to do the same.

Expressing Love Respectfully

• Expressing Love Respectfully: Teach your son that love should be expressed through kindness and support, not control or aggression. True love is built on mutual respect and care.
• Rejecting Violence: Emphasize that any form of violence—physical, emotional, or verbal—is unacceptable. Encourage him to find healthier ways to communicate and resolve conflicts.

Making Positive Choices

• Doing Good Not Mandatory: Understand that while it’s not always possible to practice good in every situation, harmful actions are never justified. Strive to make neutral or positive choices whenever possible.
• At Least Try Don’t Be Bad: If doing good isn’t feasible, at least avoid causing harm. This principle encourages refraining from actions that negatively impact others.

Let’s create a better tomorrow
Educating and guiding boys to become respectful, empathetic individuals is crucial in building a society where gender equality and safety are prioritized. By instilling values of respect, empathy, and responsibility, we prepare them to be active contributors to a positive and equitable world. Let’s commit to nurturing these qualities in our young men and fostering a culture of respect and understanding.

What’s your excuse this time, or is it still HER fault? Men will be men, right? Let’s embrace change and move towards a better world. As seen in the recent Tamil film Maharaja, Karma is powerful; your actions and behaviors will come full circle—start living with that awareness today!