Boys Boys need to have a safe place where they can learn to express themselves without relying on aggression. After-school programming for boys used to be synonymous with sports programs. Little thought was given to social groups for boys outside of sports. Recent research has shown that programs specifically for girls, for the sake of building their leadership skills and self-esteem, have made great strides in helping young women make necessary choices in difficult situations. In light of this push for more girl-specific programming, educators are now recognizing that similar programming is necessary for boys.
Boys do express themselves in constructive ways.
Boys are sensitive to other people's feelings or understand that some of the ways they express themselves can be offensive to others. Boys can be sickened or repulsed by the glorified violence often seen in cartoons, movies, and video games. However, boys often don't have the tools to express those reactions in nonviolent ways. Creating a place where boys can express their joys and frustrations is a challenge. Urban Voices, a program run from 1997 to 1999 at Interfaith Neighbors, gave young men an opportunity to express their concerns and dreams without the fear of physical or verbal harassment.