246: My Son is Becoming Sexist. How Do I Stop This?

Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens

Dr. Lisa Damour/Reena Ninan

Kids & Family, Mental Health, Parenting, Health & Fitness

4.8 • 720 Ratings

🗓️ 18 November 2025

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

It’s not always easy to be a seventh grade boy. Their confidence may be fragile, they tend to lag behind girls in terms of pubertal development, and at school-a place that can feel like it's built for girls- boys may start to feel like they’re falling behind. When that happens, they can become vulnerable to harmful influences and start adopting views–even sexist ones–that can worry parents. In this episode, psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan unpack what’s really going on developmentally for boys in early adolescence, and how parents can respond with empathy and understanding instead of fear or frustration. You’ll learn why boys often struggle more in school at this age, how their neurological growth differs from girls’, and what you can do to protect your son’s confidence and values as he grows into himself. 💡 YOU’LL LEARN: - Why seventh-grade boys face unique biological and neurological challenges - How school environments can unintentionally favor girls’ developmental strengths - How figures like Andrew Tate prey on boys’ vulnerability, and what parents can do about it - How to keep communication open and help boys find confidence in healthy ways This episode is a must-watch for any parent of a tween or teen boy who wants to understand what’s really happening beneath the surface — and how to support his growth with empathy and confidence. Follow and subscribe to our YouTube channel where you can see all our latest video episodes: https://youtube.com/@asklisapodcast And follow us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn @AskLisaPodcast, @Lisa.Damour, @ReenaNinan. Checkout Dr. Lisa’s website for more resources: https://www.drlisadamour.com/ Ask Lisa is produced by: https://www.goodtroubleproductions.com Episode keywords: boys, puberty, development, self-esteem, sexism, parenting Podcast keywords: ask lisa podcast, dr lisa damour, reena ninan, psychology, podcast, teens, tweens, parenting teens, parenting tweens, teen parenting, tween parenting, parenting tips, parenting advice, positive parenting, parenting podcast, teen behavior, tween challenges, raising tweens, raising teens, parenting hacks, parenting help, family dynamics, kids podcast, mental health, teen mental health, attachment styles, emotional intelligence

Transcript

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0:00.0	Raising Twins and Teens comes with a lot of questions, and Lisa and I are here to help you find answers.
0:08.4	That's right. And if you like the Ask Lisa podcast, you'll love my free weekly newsletter that delivers seasoned parenting guidance right to your inbox.
0:17.5	Every newsletter pivots off of a recent podcast episode to highlight key points
0:22.1	in raising tweens and teens. This incredibly popular newsletter is a quick, easy read,
0:28.1	full of practical parenting guidance. So go to my website, Dr.Lisademore.com, to sign up today.
0:34.6	Lisa's weekly newsletter is one more way that we're here to help you untangle family life.
0:43.3	Tell me a parenting issue everyone struggles with with tweens and teens, but no one talks about.
0:48.9	Rina, I think a lot of people feel like they just don't know how to connect to their kid anymore.
0:54.7	I'm Rina Nainen, and welcome to Ask Lisa, the psychology of raising tweens and teens.
0:59.7	And I'm Dr. Lisa DeMore. We bring you science-back strategies for managing anxiety,
1:04.6	discipline, intense emotions, and more. We decode tough parenting issues with tips you can use right now. So subscribe
1:11.8	to Ask Lisa the psychology of raising tweens and teens and join our YouTube community today. Just
1:17.8	Google Ask Lisa Podcast. We're here to help you untangle family life.
1:25.7	Episode 246, my son is becoming sexist. How do I stop this?
1:36.2	Do you cook for Thanksgiving?
1:39.3	We potluck. We pot luck. You pot luck. Smart. But, and we host. So we, but we've, we do the turkey. And I like the
1:48.8	vegetables. So I make a bunch of vegetables. What do you guys do? Yeah. No, this year I'm hosting. And so,
1:55.0	I'm just trying to figure out, you always have a good structure of things and what to do when.
2:00.3	But, you know,
2:20.1	every year I get to this and I wonder, like, what should I make ahead of time? What should I not? And it's quite a, it's quite a process, I think. It is. It is. We have it down to a science. We know exactly who brings what. They bring the exact same thing every year because it's the same 12 of us every year. I think it's a lot harder when you don't have a pattern.
2:22.7	It sounds like you're having to build this from scratch. Because I've always been blessed to go over to my in-laws and they do all the cooking.
2:28.0	So it's kind of a great outcome. Absolutely. It's my turn now. Well, you know, you gathered around with families and lots of
	...

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