Packaging Boyhood

"Boys are marketed a prepackaged vision of masculinity just as girls are marketed hyper femininity. But publishers are less interested in books about how boys are sold on masculinity because fewer parents see this as problematic. It puts boys in a more powerful position and homophobia often prevents people from questioning masculinity. This book talks a lot about how the images marketed to boys may be unhealthy for our sons and for our kids’ relationships. When I speak and am asked about the cultural constraints on boys, I direct people to Packaging Boyhood . The subtitle of the book is Saving Our Sons From Superheroes, Slackers and Other Media Stereotypes . So those are the archetypes. When we’re talking about these issues in parenting I don’t want to leave boys out. I think it’s very important to include them. But this isn’t my area of expertise – that’s why I suggest the book as a resource for others."