Majority believe boys need more emotional support

A new study by the Pew Research Center reveals differing opinions among U.S. adults on whether boys and girls should be encouraged to express their feelings and excel in school. Many adults believe there is not enough focus on helping boys with these areas. The survey found that 57% of Americans think boys should be encouraged more to talk about their feelings, while only 31% feel the same for girls. This sentiment is stronger among Democrats, with 70% agreeing that boys need more support, compared to 45% of Republicans. Regarding other issues, there is also a divide along political lines. For example, 49% of Republicans feel boys lack encouragement to stand up for themselves, whereas just 26% of Democrats agree. Similarly, 47% of Republicans believe boys need more guidance to become leaders, compared to 26% of Democrats. The survey did not include questions about nonbinary teens. In previous research from 2017, Pew studied opinions on gender differences in raising children. Juliana Horowitz from Pew highlighted that the latest survey shows more people now believe girls are receiving the right amount of encouragement in school and leadership roles. Despite ongoing discussions about boys' academic challenges, views on raising boys have not changed significantly. For girls, however, more people see improvements. Teen responses also reflect these political divides. More Republican teens value marriage and having children compared to their Democratic peers. For example, 43% of Republican teens see marriage as very important, versus 29% of Democratic teens. This partisan divide is apparent not just in adults but also in teens regarding family aspirations and gender identity. The adult survey included 6,204 respondents, while the teen survey included 1,391 teens. Both surveys have small margins of error.