Society

Masculinity 'crisis' sorts out China's men from the boys

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-08-07 12:03

HANGZHOU - "We bring out the men in boys."

So reads the motto "West Point Boys" boot camp for adolescent males whose parents think they are being led astray by a lack of "masculinity."

For a month during the summer, boys are tutored in a range of "manly" activities, such as taekwondo, ball games, chess and public debating, with a strict daily schedule and discipline designed to teach responsibility.

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Founded in 2006, the camp has seen enrollment hit a record this year as more Chinese parents fear their sons are losing out to girls in school or adulthood competition.

"We have already signed up 400 boys. That is the camp's upper limit," says manager Wan Guoying, at the camp in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province.

Wan attributes the popularity of the camp to the erosion of "masculinity" as ever more Chinese boys appear both physically and emotionally weak.

One couple who enrolled their 15-year-old son complained that he lacked the "manly" traits of responsibility and the ability to endure hardships.

"He did poorly in school exams and became rebellious. We worry about his future and fear that he will be incompetent to inherit our family business," said one of his parents, who declined to be named.

The idea of a masculinity crisis in China is rapidly gaining ground.

Sun Yunxiao, deputy director of China Youth and Children Research Center and author of the book, "Save the Boys," has claimed that China's boys are undergoing a crisis.

He has warned that boys have become physically less capable than previous generations, unable to accept their social responsibilities, and are mentally and emotionally inferior to girls.

Sun's argument is echoed by many educators. Yang Jianhua, vice president of Zhejiang Sociological Society, says boys are falling behind in academic achievements and graduating from high school at lower rates than girls.

A Beijing high school teacher surnamed Zhang says boys in his class are less assertive and much lazier than girls, and many of them are afraid to confess their mistakes.

The idea also has prominent detractors, including sociologist and sexologist Li Yinhe, of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, who dismisses the "boy crisis" as a fallacy.

"The boy crisis, by and large, is based on people's deep-rooted patriarchal discrimination," Li says.

For thousands of years, Chinese women were seen as lesser beings and expected to be mild and submissive. Today, many girls enjoy equal education opportunities, and women are encouraged to take the lead and surge ahead in competition.

"Instead of seeing our society as in the midst of a boy crisis, I would like to say that China is witnessing an epoch of girl empowerment," Li argues.