"Boys will be boys" - what's the impact of language, really?

[Joseph41]

I'd be interested in people's thoughts on this!

No excuses: government releases new guidelines on sexist language

"Boys will be boys." "He's picking on you because he likes you." "Don't throw like a girl."

These are the kinds of phrases that the Australian government is attempting to eradicate with a new tool in its anti-violence campaign aimed at educators and influencers of young people.

...

I absolutely love this campaign, FWIW.

[Zainbow]

"It is also clear from our research that too often adults blame the victim by asking what a victim may have done to invite what should simply be recognised as unacceptable, disrespectful behaviour."

This is what's wrong with society, blaming the victim.
I really hope this campaign achieves substantial results.

[Joseph41]

"It is also clear from our research that too often adults blame the victim by asking what a victim may have done to invite what should simply be recognised as unacceptable, disrespectful behaviour."

This is what's wrong with society, blaming the victim.
I really hope this campaign achieves substantial results.

Absolutely.

IMO the impact of language has been - and still is - severely underestimated.

[zhen]

Funnily enough I've barely heard any of these lines throughout my childhood (maybe because I was raised up by asian parents). So, I barely have any experience of being influenced by this type of stuff, so I don't really know if it really has a negative influence on a child's development.

[Joseph41]

Funnily enough I've barely heard any of these lines throughout my childhood (maybe because I was raised up by asian parents). So, I barely have any experience of being influenced by this type of stuff, so I don't really know if it really has a negative influence on a child's development.

That's interesting!

Have you ever heard anything like, "don't be a girl" when a male is demonstrating emotion? Or "man up"?

[zhen]

That's interesting!

Have you ever heard anything like, "don't be a girl" when a male is demonstrating emotion? Or "man up"?

Don't think I've heard "don't be a girl" said throughout my childhood. But I think I've heard people say stuff like "man up" throughout my early high school years. But, I think that it was too late to really influence me.

[vcestressed]

http://www.mamamia.com.au/domestic-violence-ad-australia/
a teacher showed us this ad last year (cuz i did a whole semester of advertising in year 10) and its pretty concerning.

[Joseph41]

http://www.mamamia.com.au/domestic-violence-ad-australia/
a teacher showed us this ad last year (cuz i did a whole semester of advertising in year 10) and its pretty concerning.

Truly, truly horrible.

What are your thoughts on the language referenced in the article, vcestressed?

[vcestressed]

Same as zhen actually. I actually didn't know those phrases until last year. I've heard my parents say 'boys will be boys' heaps of times though. I have also heard of people telling young boys things like 'why are you crying, you aren't a girl' which is also really disappointing.

[Sine]

yeah same as those above I have never really heard any of these phrases used outside of those sort of campaigns. 

"boys will be boys" ehh mainly only through TV shows

[elysepopplewell]

I remember being told "boys pick on you because they like you."Not cool. Implies that picking on someone you admire is OK (it's not), it tells young girls that this behaviour is an acceptable way of boys showing something thoughtful, and that boys do mean things and you could take it as a compliment.

To be honest, it's just a really really stupid thing to say to a young person lol.