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by John Goddard
A major problem confronting our society is the increasing number of deviant and violent young men who see gun and knife as indispensable requirements for their survival.
The print, electronic and social media regularly report incidents of shootings and stabbings of youth cut down by other young people in what should be their most productive years. Violence perpetrated by men on men and on their wives and girlfriends no longer shocks Barbadians as was the case two decades ago.
The question which we need to ask is what factors have contributed to the present state of anomie? I start with the home. Raised mainly by their mothers, owing to absentee fathers, too many of our young males have been brought up in dysfunctional homes where tired, disillusioned and frustrated mothers struggle to feed, clothe, educate and discipline them.
Quite a few boys have to endure the abuse of mothers who have been hurt by the children’s fathers and constantly tell the boys that they will turn out just like their “worthless fathers”. I doubt whether such mothers are conscious of the negative impact their words can have on their sons.
A couple years ago, MESA reported that a survey done among boys showed that forty three percent of them believe that their sisters are treated better than they are, and that their mothers are abusive. The absence of fathers hurts all, but it can have a devastating effect on boys.
The point I am trying to make is that children are the products of their upbringing, and as Plastic Bag reminds us, “If you plant potato, you will reap potato. That’s what is meant when they say you will reap whatever you sow”. Adults have the power to influence children positively or negatively and should take the responsibility seriously.
Another key factor affecting the development of boys is the school. Having been exposed at home to a woman only, boys find that, particularly at primary level, they are, in many cases, under the control of female head teachers and, most definitely, female class teachers. Thus up to age 11, some of our boys have had their lives shaped by women. How can they learn what authentic masculinity is?
Even at secondary school, chances are that they are going to be exposed to a disproportionate number of women. So, they are left to learn what it is to be a man from their peers, who do not know themselves; village men, incapable of modelling real masculinity, or television characters who may be drop outs from society.
Furthermore, the school system alienates many males who are turned off from education at an early age, and who leave school without the tools needed for gainful employment and productive lives. The Common Entrance Examination, which many feel is the fairest system for transferring children from primary to secondary school, is, in fact, a major cause of the problem of frustrated and delinquent men.
How can we continue to support a system which allocates the high flyers to the so-called prestigious schools and places the struggling majority into less regarded schools? Don’t we realise the damage done to the psyche of those pupils who are sent to the schools which Barbadians regard as institutions for “duncey”children? No wonder these schools produce so many disenchanted and violent young men.
After leaving school, the marginalised youth, who feel that they have no stake in the society, gravitate to the blocks where they can, at least, feel appreciated. Their youthful energies are often channelled into destructive behaviour.
While an increasing number of girls go to the university, B.C.C, S.J. I.T and other educational institutions, too many young men have no use for further formal education. Increasingly, even the traditionally male dominated areas of masonry, carpentry, tiling and plumbing are attracting larger numbers of females but a fast declining number of males.
The Church which previously influenced the development of Barbadians is now largely ignored. Most parents do not bother to take or send their children to church. So, where do they get their moral and spiritual training from?
Parents do not insist on their children saying prayers, and certainly, our young people do not listen to devotions on
Q 100 or VOB 790. Many of our boys are growing up without being touched by religion.
There has been a marked change in our value system; no longer do we teach that “a little with content is great gain”, “honesty is the best policy” or “Manners maketh man”. In a materialistic society, only money counts and short cuts to success are the norm.
Why sweat when young women (girls) can depend on “sugar daddies”, and their male counterparts can sell dope, rob and, of rising popularity, sell themselves to men with money. In any case, they witness or hear of corrupt practices by those in positions of power and authority.
Politicians have contributed to the breakdown in discipline; they use young people at election time, attracting them to meetings by inviting calypsonians and dub artistes to provide entertainment.
Hardly any effort is made to discuss youth challenges and there is no coherent plan by either of the two major parties
to address the issues affecting youth, generally, and males in particular.
Fewer and fewer men are voting, and they have no interest in politics or government. What they have is a mendicancy mentality which encourages them to seek hand- outs rather than productive employment. And if reports are to be believed, some are prepared to sell their votes to the highest bidder.
And what about the media? Globalised television presents imagery of men as thugs and drug pushers with powerful guns and enough cash to buy anything including pretty women. There are now many movies portraying homosexuality as a highly desirable alternative lifestyle. A growing number of our young men are attracted
to such images.
The Rev. Leslie Lett, writing in the Nation newspaper a few years ago, put it this way, “We are a society adrift and are fast becoming a people who know the dollar price of everything but the value of nothing. Success is judged by wealth or promise of wealth.”
Should we be surprised, then, that our young men reject hard work which does not bring the quick financial returns necessary for them to live the life of glamour?
Where do we go from here? It is clear that we need to find solutions and fast. We have to urgently set about the task of rescuing our young males as well as females. I will offer suggestions for tackling the challenges in another article.
John Goddard, retired, but always an educator.
