Guest columnist: Let boys be boys

I found a plastic sword the other day.  

It was buried in the couch under the pillows right next to the stale pretzels. I’m pretty sure my roommate’s little brother left it there.  (You know how little guys love swords.)

It was late at night, and I was surprised to discover it, so I did what any responsible, mature, college-educated man would do. I attacked my roommate.

In seconds, I had dismembered and decapitated him — imaginarily, of course — and neither one of us could quit laughing and shouting as I hacked him with the toy blade.

Sometimes, a little violence can be fun. And I’m not the only guy that feels this way.

The popularity of Halo, Call of Duty, UFC and Nerf prove the point: there’s something about a hard-fought battle that captures the heart and imagination of a man.

And all men are boys at heart.

So it should come as no surprise to parents or early childhood educators that young boys often play violent games where fingers become our guns and two hands in the air mean you’re flying. However, such play has come under attack.

Last month at their annual conference, members of the American Psychological Association bemoaned the effects of fantasy violence. Insisting that modern superheroes promote aggression and emotional detachedness, the APA asserted, “Watching superheroes beat up villains may not be the best image for boys to see if society wants to promote kinder, less stereotypical male behaviors.”

Now I’m all about kind behavior, and I don’t always fit the mold of what’s stereotypically male, but is a little fantasy violence really that bad?

Apparently, early childhood educators believe it is. In a recently released survey, half of the 98 female teachers polled reported “stopping or redirecting boys’ play” on a regular basis. Knowing that female educators make up 97.8 percent of the pre-K and kindergarten labor force, it’s logical to assume that the free play of young boys across the country is being squelched and curbed.

And that’s a shame. Because a little violence never hurt anyone.

I remember playing games with all sorts of fighting as a young boy. You probably do too. What child of the ’90s didn’t pretend they were a Power Ranger on more than one occasion? Aggressive play is simply part of growing up.

As socially-minded, earth-saving, peace-loving young adults, we must remember that violent-themed play is what it is: play. There is no malicious intent, no real hate behind it.

Psychologist Michael Thompson suggests the violent play of boys is most often halted by young mothers and female educators who did not participate in and cannot relate to the style of aggressive play that boys find so enthralling.

So to them, I say this. When a little guy calls you “bad” and runs after you screaming “Die! Die!” he’s not angry. He’s just pretending. Let him be the hero. Just calm down and fire back.


E-mail: tycherne@indiana.edu