This blog was spurred by an insightful question my students asked me at VidhyaDeepam a few classes ago. Why are there no boys in the high school class?

This is purely empirical data – but over the last 12 years I have been associated with cultural and spiritual education I have seen that there is a very even mix of genders in the elementary through middle school grades. However, when the kids move to high school the boys tend to drop out, the drop out rates for boys seems to be greater than 90%.

Now I get to the more controversial part of this blog – my reasons as to why this is happening. I have no direct evidence of some of the theories that I am about to expound on, and I look forward to feedback especially from those who are parents of teenage boys.

I believe this is an extension of the Indian bias where boys are treated as special and are pampered as compared to our girls. When we leave India, this slips into the realms of “unconscious bias”. When we immigrate to the US, the societal pressures and boundaries that are placed on girls in India for most part do not apply – but this is where our unconscious bias kicks in. Our daughters need to be steeped in our culture, norms and even spirituality – it is essential for them to stay connected to our roots, but not so our sons.

If you look at the levels of commitment – our daughters take on the same number of extra-curriculars be it robotics, math classes, soccer or school clubs. They tend to continue classical music and/or dance – on top of which they show up at VidhyaDeepam for spiritual/cultural education. How come our sons, do not show this level of commitment? And why are they allowed to get away with it?

Do we not want our sons to grow up with the morals, ethics and spiritual strength to live a full, meaningful and successful lives?

We in VidhyaDeepam celebrate equality and point to our scriptures that have revered women for eons!

In the Rig Veda in Chapter 10 we have the Devi Suktam in which comes this declaration of the status of Devi (feminine power):

I am the Queen, the gatherer-up of treasures, most thoughtful, first of those who merit worship.
Thus Gods have established me in many places with many homes to enter and abide in
Through me alone all eat the food that feeds them,-each man who sees, breathes, hears the word outspoken
They know it not, yet I reside in the essence of the Universe. Hear, one and all, the truth as I declare it..

In Manusmriti the status of women is clearly expounded “where women are revered, there the Gods rejoice; but where they are not, no sacred rite bears any fruit”

Let us educate our sons – let them understand their place in this world -live ethical and successful lives which they share in perfect equality with our daughters.