Protecting the Boy Child

A teenage boy recently opened up to me in the sincere way a child confides in a parent. He shared that he has been deeply troubled because several girls in his school keep pressuring him emotionally and physically. They tell him he is attractive and cute, they pursue him, and even his seniors says he is “too cute” to resist. One girl went as far as forcefully hugging him and boldly telling him that if persuasion fails, force must be applied. He also mentioned another boy experiencing the same pressure.

We often only highlight the difficulties faced by girls, but boys also go through emotional manipulation, sexual pressure, and boundary violations. The silence around boys’ struggles makes them feel ignored and unprotected.

From an Islamic perspective, this issue is not only about consent but about refraining from every behaviour that leads to temptation, harm, or immorality. Islam commands both believing men and believing women to lower their gaze, act with modesty, and stay away from situations that open the door to fitnah. These teachings are meant to protect the dignity, peace, and purity of all children, boys and girls alike.

Today, some girls initiate inappropriate behaviour towards boys, yet society often dismisses it because people assume boys cannot be victims. This mindset is wrong and dangerous. Parents have a responsibility to teach their children about modesty, respect, and the importance of guarding their behaviour. The increasing trend of dressing young girls in ways that contradict Islamic modesty only deepens the problem, sending confusing messages about boundaries and self-respect.

Protecting the girl child is important, but the boy child also matters. Boys deserve emotional safety. Boys deserve boundaries. Boys deserve to be heard when they say they feel uncomfortable.

As a community, we must educate our children to respect each other, fear Allah, and refrain from anything that leads to coercion, temptation, or sin. Islam stands for justice, and justice requires that we protect every child.

Let us raise sons and daughters who honour themselves, respect others, and uphold the values of modesty and dignity that Islam teaches.