Protecting the boy child
Before the Coronavirus global pandemic, “Attention lavished on the girl child has leftboy child lonely and adrift” by Hezron Mogambi reported from police data that there were 2,774 homicides in 2017, an increase from the previous year. From a report published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in 2018, Kenya was amongthose countries with the highest cases of female homicides noted by Mogambi. After the pandemic started, the situation did not subside but rather escalate with more homicides.
Another disturbing report shows that “Close to 4,000 schoolgirls impregnated in Kenya during COVID-19 lockdown.”
As I continue to read and watch more of these stories, I ask myself what is the problem? Mogambi asks “aren’tthe empowerment of the girl child and the subsequent effects of a neglected boychild not the labor pains we are experiencing now?”
I answer yes to Mogambi’s question. The boy child's neglect has exposed the society to the current forms of abuse/violence we are experiencing in our society today. For this reason, my article focuses on protecting the boy child from neglect as one of the ways to solve some of the societal problems we are experiencing, particularly in these difficult times of the Covid-19 global pandemic. I believe when we stop neglecting the boy child, we will gain one of the key solutions to many societal challenges, such as domestic violence, divorce, and child abuse.
Do not misinterpret my argument; I know protecting women is a critical solution to solving many societal challenges.
I have decided to talk about the boy child because I feel they are slowly becoming marginalized, resulting in the current social problems. I am disturbed when I see men's issues being treated like a joke in the media, social gatherings, among other places, yet most men are suffering in silence. The idea is not who is bigger than the other between the two genders/sexes, but to unite them in protecting the man/boy child from the looming destructions.
I
think the current society has neglected the boy child, leaving them helpless
without a place to run to for guidance or help. The society expects so much
from them, and as our future men, the bar has been set so high for him. At
school, they are molded to become the most intelligent and morally upright
young men with the society. The primary
and high schools do a great job of providing them with the solid foundation. Let’s
face the truth; they only get the text book version of life. They cannot learn
everything from schools or textbooks. When they fail to deliver as men in accordance
to the society’s expectations, they become crucified. For those who achieve
high academic grades, they are praised and honored. However, they face many
challenges when they join the various colleges and universities across the
country. For those who fail to achieve academic excellence, they are condemned
and marked as failures for the rest of their lives. With nowhere to run, many
of them engage in drugs, violence, criminal activities, and become deadbeat
fathers. If I am wrong, please correct me.
So where are we going wrong as a society?
Unlike the past where the environment allowed our forefathers to spend time teaching their sons about life when working in the fields, the modern world has robbed time and separated the two. Fathers to work hard day and night to ensure they provide the best for their families, the boy child continue to miss that important life lesson from their fathers. The society tells them, “men do not show weakness, men do not cry (I am not saying they cry), mwanaume kukazana na maisha……..” Since they are not expected to show weakness or failure, they are left wonder in the society and learn the hard way. To their disadvantage, the digital world of technology has not spared them. They have become exposed to all the vices of the world and new cultures. For this reason, I believe that is why we are having so many issues of deadbeat fathers and rising cases of domestic violence that have become extreme leading to death.
What can we do?
I believe the boy child requires mentorship, guidance about manhood/life, how to treat women by saying no to violence and become providers. I am requesting men, (fathers, guardians……….) please come together and find time to mentor the boy child and protect the pride of a man. I am also requesting the women to join the fight in protecting the boy child, to help create a generation of men who respects their rights, treat them with equality and care for their needs. As a reminder to the women, I believe by condemning and crucifying the men and neglecting the boy child, you are fighting a losing battle in the campaign against gender violence and inequality.
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