A PARENTING expert has revealed that she believes parents of boys treat them like "dogs". Former BBC producer Ruth Whippman said that parents should see their sons as "complex emotional creatures" instead of like pets who just need food and water to survive. 2 Ruth said we need to change the way we parent boys Credit: BBR Radio 4 Woman's Hour 2 She said parents treat them like dogs Credit: BBR Radio 4 Woman's Hour The journalist, who is from the UK but now lives in California, has written a new book, called BoyMum, which advises parents on how to raise boys in the era of toxic masculinity.
'Boy mum' is a term often used in a derogatory manner, against mothers who appear as though they favour their sons over their daughters. Ruth recently made an appearance on BBC Woman's Hour to share the common mistakes parents make when raising boys. She said that leaning into stereotypes such as "boys can't sit still" and "boys don't like reading" can be damaging towards them in the future .
The mum-of-three added that her research for the book has also helped to change the way she raises her own sons. Discussing the book with host Nuala McGovern, Ruth explained that parents are now often more progressive when raising girls than they are with boys. She said: "We talk about girls in this really expansive, inspirational way, so it's like: 'You can be anything, you're strong, you're tough, you're brave, break those stereotypes'".
However, she added that parents of boys often simplify their ne.
