NYU professor of developmental psychology Niobe Way recently spoke with ABC News about her book, “Rebels with a Cause: Reimagining Boys, Ourselves, and Our Culture,” which delves into how society can improve the upbringing of boys.
Way has spent years studying what she describes as “boy culture.” Her book features case histories and studies that detail the adverse effects on boys when societies emphasize independence and assertiveness over our natural abilities to care, listen, and rely on each other.
In her book, Way challenges the common narrative that attributes violence, suicide, and mass shootings primarily to lack of gun control or mental illness. She argues that the core issue behind many societal problems is the loneliness experienced by boys.
Way elaborated on this in her interview with ABC News. She explained that from her four decades of research, it’s clear that both boys’ and societal struggles, including depression, anxiety, loneliness, and violence, stem from a culture that conflicts with our inherent human need for relationships.
She points out that society often stereotypically labels boys as naturally aggressive due to testosterone, overlooking their equally strong capacity for emotional intimacy and care. This “thin story” about boys, she says, misconstrues their natural human traits.
According to Way, boys from all backgrounds, including young men of color from working-class communities, express a desire for deep, emotional connections in their friendships. These boys’ experiences reveal the harmful effects of societal expectations and stereotypes, as well as the potential solutions to these issues.
Way also discussed how anti-woke culture exacerbates the problem by perpetuating hierarchical structures that place certain groups above others. She argues that this perpetuation of hierarchies leads to frustration and anger among those who feel marginalized.
Her new book “Rebels with a Cause: Reimagining Boys, Ourselves, and Our Culture” is now available for readers interested in exploring these insights further.