My appreciation goes to those who participated in the March poll, which asked whether boys or girls have the greater advantages in life, or if they have equal advantages. Of the 95 participants, it was almost even.
The poll for April asks what kind of residential programs for at-risk teens are most trusted: State run programs with state employees, private programs run under state funding guidelines and requirements, or private parent choice programs. To express your opinion, please go to http://www.strugglingteens.com/news/polls.html.
The March results are very interesting because this issue has been hotly debated for more than a decade. Initially in the 1990s, many publications and legislation claimed that boys had unfair advantages and action needed to be taken to give girls an equal chance. In the last two to three years, that has shifted with many books and publications now pointing out that girls in both high school and college dominate most of the activities that suggest future success, such as college attendance, honor society membership and reading skills. On the other hand, these publications point out that high school and college boys dominate activities that suggest a doubtful future, such as school expulsion, rates of medication for ADHD and ADD, violent activities, trouble with the law, remedial education and sinking rates of college attendance.
Out of 95 participants in the March poll, 37% felt boys had the greater advantage in life, 40% felt girls had the greater advantage and 15% felt that the advantages were equal between boys and girls. At first glance, and assuming the respondents are an accurate representation of our society, this sounds like a healthy balance in public opinion, or that the opinion might be developing that we have achieved a fair balance. It might even be a reflection of the old adage “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” By that, I mean that although I don’t have the data, and this is just speculation, it could be that most males answering the question feel that females have things easier, and the females participating were thinking that males have things easier. If so, then perhaps we have at least a temporary balance in the “battle of the sexes.”