In Conversation: Santosh Acharya On Raising Boys With Emotional Leadership And Self-Esteem

Every time we compare boys against girls, we plant rivalry. And we wonder why our boys are angry, frustrated, and hostile. Are we not forcing boys to embrace rivalry and disrespect?

ParentCircle’s annual Raising Boys Campaign helps families guide boys with care, respect, and understanding. It urges parents to stop measuring boys against girls so that neither feels superior.

Every time we celebrate their strengths, we nurture respect.

In this two-part video series, Santosh Acharya, Family Leadership Coach, talks about how comparisons with girls and gender expectations affect boys’ self-esteem and self-respect.

These videos show how boys and girls can be raised with strong self-esteem so they feel confident, proud of their strengths, respectful, and appreciative of each other.

In the first video, 'The Journey to Emotional Leadership,' Santosh explains why boys should not be compared or forced to be silent about their emotions. He urges parents not to pass down this “emotional inheritance,” which pushes boys and girls into rivalry.

In the second video, 'The Path Forward: Emotional Safety, Respect, and Collective Growth,' Santosh shares simple steps for parents and communities, like creating emotional safety, setting respectful boundaries, and teaching boys that “calmness is true power.”

Santosh Acharya’s Raising Boys series shows how change begins at home. Give your boys emotional safety by breaking free from comparisons and gender expectations. Every small step you take builds their self-worth.

Make a parent’s promise: To build your child’s emotional safety by listening, respecting, and never comparing.

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Discover how to raise boys and girls who respect and celebrate each other’s strengths. Read the full conversation with Erinda Shah, Founder, Mental Health First Aid, India.