Book Review
Every boy has a story Chintan Girish Modi
I
facilitate workshops with children and adults on topics related to gender and sexuality. The organizations that invite me to do this work often have a clear mandate. They want me to sensitize boys and men, hoping that this one-off training will keep them from disrespecting and harassing girls and women. The initial expectation is that I talk about consent and boundaries, make my audience examine their behaviour, and give them concrete tips to improve their conduct. In order to break the monotony, my hosts want me to keep the session interactive, fun-filled and provocative. At the same time, they also expect deep inner shifts that would validate their decision of hosting the workshop in the first place. How do I manage these demands placed on me? First, I do not believe in the idea that all boys and men are potential rapists. Second, I like to get to know the workshop participants by eliciting their opinions through games, activities or discussions. Third, I stay aware of the fact that people experience discrimination and violence due to their religion, caste, ethnicity and class, not only their gender identity or sexual orientation. In May 2020, I observed a renewed interest on social media in thinking critically about how boys are being raised in our society. These conversations grew out of the utter shock and dismay parents, educators and activists experienced after learning about ‘Bois Locker Room’, an Instagram group chat where teenage boys from Delhi and Noida shared photographs of girls without their consent, sexually objectified them, and talked about their rape fantasies. Outrage is a good starting point but beneficial only when channelized in 56
TEACHER PLUS, JULY 2020
Being Boys
Editors: Deeya Nayar and Radhika Menon Publisher: Tulika Publishers Year of publication: 2015 Recommended age: 10+ Price: Rs. 225
