How to Teach Your Son to Respect Women

One of the most important things you can teach your son is to respect women. A boy who respects girls is more likely to grow into a man who treats women well. A man who thinks of women as his equals sets himself up for healthier relationships, whether with a girlfriend, wife, boss or even his mother. Start early, and you can help provide him with the tools he'll need to be respectful toward women.

Instructions

    • 1

      Act how you want your son to act, since children learn from example. If your son sees you being kind and caring toward women, he will learn this is how he should behave. Treat his mother, your sister, your wife's friends, and any woman you meet with respect. Never speak badly of them in front of your son.

    • 2

      Teach him violence against women is never acceptable. Show him there are healthy ways to express frustration and anger -- such as talking about the problem or taking a break from the situation -- but that hitting women or being abusive toward them is always wrong.

    • 3

      Be responsible for your own actions. People make mistakes and people lose control. If your son sees you behaving toward a woman in a negative way, apologize to the woman and to him. Explain to him you know what you did was wrong and that it won't happen again. Then make sure it does not.

    • 4

      Encourage your son to be kind and chivalrous to the girls and, later on, women he dates. Let him know it's important to treat the people he's dating with courtesy and caring. Explain the necessity of working through problems in any relationship, instead of getting angry or walking away from it. Tell him he can always come to talk to you, no matter what problems he might be having in a relationship. You will listen, will not judge and will try to help.

    • 5

      Explain it's okay to show emotions with women, but throwing or breaking things, getting violent or losing control is not. Listen to your son and help him understand his own feelings toward a girl or woman. Celebrate the positive ones and control, then work, through the negative ones. Show him the feelings themselves are not bad. The way he deals with those feelings is what's important.

    • 6

      Show him you don't agree with people in popular culture -- actors, singers, sports personalities -- who are abusive or negative toward women. Listen to the music he listens to, take him to movies he wants to see, then talk about any disrespectful song lyrics you heard or characters on screen who degraded women. Children often think negative influences in entertainment are cool. Show him you don't think they are.

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