Introduction: Listening to Boys' Voices p. XIX
A Nationwide Journey p. XXI
Moments of Doubt p. XXII
Helping Boys to Be Themselves p. XXIII
Reaching Out and Listening to Boys: A New Approach p. XXV
Getting Behind the Mask p. XXXIV
The Real Boys' Voices Project p. XXXIV
The Secret Emotional Lives of Boys
The Secret Emotional Lives of America's Boys: What They're Really Talking About p. 3
Taking Off the Gender Straitjacket p. 15
The Mask of Masculinity and the Double Life: Suppression and Bravado p. 33
The Angst of Becoming a Man: Coming of Age p. 48
Of Two Minds: Having Sex with Girls p. 59
The Pressure to Work and Succeed p. 77
Spirituality and Renewal p. 86
Bullying and Teasing: Fitting in and Being Left Out p. 106
Overcoming Bullying p. 132
What if Your Child is Bullying? p. 138
What Should Boys Who Are Bullied Know? p. 140
Sadness, Depression, and Suicide: Sad Boys or Bad Boys? p. 142
Is He Bad or is He Sad? p. 147
How Do You Tell If a Boy is Depressed? p. 167
The Cycle of Rage and Violence
Traumatic Violence: Listening to Boys from Littleton, Colorado p. 173
The Columbine Syndrome: Fear of Violence p. 198
Abuse p. 213
Boys Reaching out and Connecting
Love for Mother p. 225
The Dad Connection p. 236
Friendships and Romances with Girls p. 249
Having Male Buddies p. 266
Emotional Intensity: Connecting Through Sports p. 274
Coming Out as Gay and Supporting Those Who Do p. 285
Dealing with Loss, Loneliness, and Shame
Pumping and Crunching: Body Image and the Media p. 297
The Sting of Divorce p. 313
Addictions: Drugs, Alcohol, and the Media p. 325
Loss: Coping with Injury, Illness, and Death p. 342
Boys in the World
Overcoming Hatred, Racism, and Poverty: Justice and Action Talk p. 357
Music, Art, and Writing: Boys Talk Through Creativity p. 369
Epilogue: Mentoring Boys and Creating Safe Spaces: A 15-Step Program p. 383