If you think it’s inevitable that boys will be boys, think again.
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It’s the first day of preschool in Taiwan. Anita is homesick and cries for her mother. What Alston does next shatters every stereotype about boys you’ve ever been taught.
Photo—DramaFever/YouTube
In addition to saying he will protect her, he says he will comfort her. And he reassures her that her mother will come. His concern about hugging could be sexualized, but I’m not sure. Children often say to adults, I’m too old for hugs, not too young. I wonder if it is against the school rules for him to hug her. Ultimately, I think he sees her as a friend in need and acts in a mostly non-gendered way to her pain.
It is less about being sexualised (the action of hugging) than the fact that the chinese word for hug (抱) is also refers to, and is understood as carrying, and at that age, most chinese speaking children do equate 抱抱, to the action of lifting up and carrying on the waist, which resulted in the boy saying that he is too young to ‘carry’ the little boy. That said, I am working as a childcare admin, and this situation is a lot more common than you may think it is in our social context (I’m Asian). Also, the children are… Read more »
That was freaking adorable. What a stand up, confident little man. “Don’t interrupt me.” LOL
Are they brother and sister?
Great idea.
And I do mean it, but this is almost ruined by the subheading:
If you think it’s inevitable that boys will be boys, think again.
Here’s an idea which I think works better:
Boys will, in fact be boys. And part of being a boy is being helpful to other people.
When you suggest that helping another person is the action of a boy NOT being a boy, THAT is the problem.
The problem is that, for wide swaths of people, helping others is seen as being less than masculine. Hopefully this young fella can teach the above referenced people that they are wrong.
I wouldn’t say that its as direct as helping others is seen as less than masculine. I think its more of the type of help perhaps. For example if that girl were being bullied by some other boys and he came and fought them off people would be okay with that because it fits the idea that boys are supposed to be protective of girls (and it would not be seen as less masculine hell it would be seen as more masculine).
I think it’s his compassion and nurturing attitude that are so impressive.
Agreed. I was just questioning chazz’s idea that the very concept of helping other is to be less than masculine. I don’t think that is true in the least bit.
But like micheal said I kinda wish you hadn’t used the “boys will be boys” line the way you did.
I agree with the subheading comments . . . it’s actually perpetuating a stereotype as it’s written. I think this little boy could be far more compassionate and human and caring though. Why couldn’t the little boy hug the little girl? We all need hugs sometimes. I saw the following in that moment: The little boy couldn’t hug her because he says he is too young . . . he already sees physical contact and hugging as a sexual act. Not all touch is sexual or violent though. And he repeats he will protect her over and over. He already… Read more »
Under the subtitles, it noted in parenthesis that the Chinese word for “hug” is the same word for “carry.”
When he objects by saying “How can I carry you?” or “I think I’m too young,” I thought he just misconstrued her request and he was saying that he thinks he is too physically small to be able to “carry” her or lift her up.
I saw the following in that moment: The little boy couldn’t hug her because he says he is too young . . . he already sees physical contact and hugging as a sexual act. Not all touch is sexual or violent though.
Where did you get that?