Don’t teach kids that teasing is an act of romance

From a young age, I was taught that if a boy was mean to me, it meant he was romantically interested in me. Being rude equated to wanting to be more than friends. This idea is ingrained in our culture and society. Allowing this behavior to continute teaches young kids that being rude equates to love.

The latest waves of feminist movements are a welcome change. But for these movements to have a lasting impact, we must begin teaching at an early age how to have healthy friendships. Much of Lab’s health program focuses on sexual relationships and dating. There is minimal focus on how to have a healthy friendship. Yet healthy friendships can be a solution to the problem.

In fourth grade, a boy in my class teased and bothered me. My teacher’s response was simple: “He’s mean to you because he likes you.” This indifferent response perpetuates the idea that a normal relationship between boys and girls is for the male to be dominant, even disrespectful.

This prevents kids from learning how to have healthy friendships and instead can teach kids that the opposite gender exists solely for romantic reasons. Furthermore, boys showing affection by treating girls badly creates a outdated idea of what a relationship should look like. With an outdated idea of relationships and lack of education there will be lasting life effects for the rising generation.

On Feb. 10, parents of students at Kanesville Elementary school in Ogden, Utah, were shocked to find out that the school does not allow students to say no to a peer if they are asked to dance. This teaches students that male students don’t have to respect “no’s” from anyone. It teaches female students that their wants don’t matter and that they have to do as they are asked. It prevents empowerment of these students and doesn’t allow them to find their own voices.

For the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements to have a lasting impression and a lasting impact, there needs to be an early understanding of how to just be friends with someone. The path to having healthy romantic relationships is based on understanding how to have a healthy friendship. For the new wave of feminism to last, the over-sexualization of friendship across genders needs to stop.