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The silence of adolescent boys and its costs

Childhood was universally described as a cherished phase, a time when boys can cry, be afraid, and be “free”. But adolescence is a remarkable shift. Having a group of friends is survival for boys, yet sizing up and teasing was reported as the most unpleasant part of being in a group.

The central question to ask: if adolescent boys need help, can we imagine public initiatives that support their unique needs? Can we, as Richard Reeves says, stop seeing “the problem of boys as the problem with boys”?

5 min read Oct 25, 2026 07:32 AM IST First published on: Oct 25, 2026 at 07:16 AM IST

Vulnerability in adolescent boys is not a subject that is often discussed, but one that has huge societal consequences — for both young men and women. One of us, Natasha, leads the gender portfolio at Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies (RNP), and repeatedly found that boys are conditioned from a young age to keep their mouths shut when it comes to feelings.…