Milwaukee's newspaper, the Journal-Sentinel, recently published two LENGTHY articles, documenting the risk associated with environmental endocrine disruptors. The first article really is an excellent introduction to the whole topic, with lots of charts and a very large amount of information about PHTHALATES. The second article presents a wealth of information about the increasingly well-documented risks of BISPHENOL A. The various reporters who contributed to these articles also do a good job of documenting how these substances disrupt endocrine development, particularly in males.
Of the five factors I describe in Boys Adrift, I have found that this factor -- endocrine disruptors -- is the one which Americans struggle with the most. I have found that people in Australia, New Zealand, and western Europe are much more open to the idea that substances in our food and water may be adversely affecting boys development.
I highly recommend these two articles for anybody who wants to learn more about the risks associated with endocrine disruptors.
posted by Leonard Sax MD PhD @ 11:54 AM
15 Comments:
Dear Dr. Sax,
After reading your book Boys Adrift, I wanted to remove all video games from my home immediatly, But I really feel that my son needed some explanation. I was surprised you did not provide an approach to this. Also, I know you suggested providing real life activites such as motor cross and hunting, etc. to take the place of video games, and to also look at schools that provide a more boy friendly atmosphere. But those activites are quite expensive. We are struggling to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. So, although your book opened my eyes to many obstacles facing boys today. It also left me feelings of hopelessness. I have a 13 year old boy who went from being a straight A student to a boy who is unmotivated and thinks school is boring and stupid.
What do you thing about Rock Band and Guitar Hero.
Thank you very much!
Dr. Sax,
I found your website a few minutes ago and I am so glad you are investigating this phenomenon. I am 38 years old and never had motivational problems.
I have indeed noticed a devaluation of masculinity in movies, television, advertising, and in pop culture in general over the past 20 years or so.
I am amazed at all the feminist websites out there that latch on to female supremacist pop culture imagery and the stats showing a higher percentage of women obtaining degrees, starting business etc. They take these things to mean some kind of ascendancy of women in a world where women will reign supreme and men will be second class citizens. I don't mean to sound conspiratorial, but do you think part of a plan executed by the government (UN?) to give women more power at the expense of men?
I know that men are capable people!! I will read your book immediately
A young man can survive without an education. A young man cannot survive without hope. If education is the only hope, many will not survive.
I haven't had a chance to read your book yet, but I look forward to hearing you on Coast to Coast.
I wonder if this is such a sex-specific phenomenon tho? I mean when I think about it, I can identify plenty of girls I know who still live at home and aren't all that motivated. One of my ex-girlfriends fits in that category while her younger brother is quite succesful in his chosen field.
I feel like I might be one of those "boys adrift", though I don't live at home anymore, my life feels a bit stagnant. When I think back I feel like the greatest reason for this is the irrelevancy of my schooling. School for me was a boring endeavour that didn't produce anything important.
Have you read any of the writings of John Taylor Gatto? He argues essentially that the irrelevant experience of school, an experience that in no way resembles anything in the real world (and thus fails to prepare us for the real world), creates irrelevant people with no drive to do anything real.
Please broach the subject of homeschooling and unschooling when you are on Coast to Coast, I'd like to know how you think it compares to the usual schools most people end up in.
Why is this generation of video game playing boys different than the previous generation, which was addicted to television?
Television is a passive medium, but video games are an interactive medium, that should certainly give that medium a one-up in my mind.
Heard you on Coast to Coast. I am a product of the Feminist movement having attended one of the first NOW meetings lead by Betty Friedan on college campuses. However, as a more discerning 50-something, I've come to believe there is indeed a consipiracy: A longstanding liberal agenda to do away with the middle class in support of secularism and a One World Order. Planned Parenthood, NOW, United Nations, the public relations successes of homosexuality and more recently the successful infiltration of New Age methodologies into our mainstream churches are all a significant part of that agenda which all began probably 40 years ago.
I enjoyed Dr. Sax's appearance on Coast to Coast AM Feb 16-17, 2008.
I have a comment on the observation that soy products do not appear to affect males in Asian societies, in apparent contrast to other societies.
A key factor is that some Asian societies have consumed soy products in relatively high quantities for centuries. There probably has been natural selection (in societies with a soy tradition) in favor of those males who do not suffer ill effects from soy. An analogy is that adult tolerance of dairy products has been selected for in European societies with a dairy tradition.
Hello,
Heard you on Coast to Coast. Was disappointed you didn't mention the very serious research that has been done on the negative impact of Soy on human reproduction, male & female. This information is widely available in Europe.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4115506.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/503781.stm
Dear Dr. Sax,
I was not able to hear much of your coast to coast interview the other evening but from what I did hear it begs the question, why should I care? It saddens me to say that but over the span of almost fifty years of life I have had disappointment upon disappointment with the male gender. There are maybe 5-10 men in my life who I consider worthy of my respect. So, does your research carry with it any redemptive qualities of this gender. If so I'm interested. Otherwise, again I ask, why should I car?
Another thing about soy - my understading is that many Asian cultures ferment it which alters its chemical profile. In the west we end up eating more soy in its unfermented form than Asians since it has been snuck into all kinds of processed foods. I believe some science has been done on this topic, but I can't remember the source.
I enjoyed hearing you on Coast to Coast and look forward to reading your book.
Dr. Sax,
I Heard the wonderful interview last Saturday night on Coast To Coast AM. An outstanding show! Exceptional verbal articulation and elocution. Keen to hear more on your feminism research. The bit about Islam becoming the dominating North American Culture in a century: alarming. Consider an appearance on Jeff Rense, Oprah, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Larry Elder KABC 790 AM Los Angeles.
Did you get much of response after the Coast appearance?
The decline of manhood is attributable to seven factors:
1. Loss of hero-worship and manly role models.
2. Loss of realistic faith in God.
3. Feminization of news reporting.
4. Media promotion of liberalism and its culture of instant gratification.
5. Pervasiveness of legal and illegal drugs and alcohol.
6. Loss of meaning and purpose in the value of being a man.
7. Homosexual and perverted behavior acceptance and promotion of a society with strange values.
Rory
Dr. Sax FYI
To Chris Garvey, Esq.
Based upon our last conversation regarding the development of plastic bottle drinks and the patenting process involved and the bottle industry Board of Directors discovering the dangers of injury to children in the endocrine shadow secreted from the bottling process, I am on the radio tonight Monday 2-25-08 Firstamendmentradio.com at 7PM EST along with Bob (Dornan) of the American Life League to discuss the ongoing creation of homosexual movement in the mainstream as an attack upon the family structure, as a deployment by the Jesuits and their Knights of Malta / pillars of corporate board rooms.
I have the following pulled up from Coast to Coast AM from Feb 16, 2008 with a Dr. Sax discussing the injuries accordingly that you and I consider a tort injury matter just as with the cigarette industrydesign of nicoline intake now being done with Estrogen simulators for Boys and Girls.
Chris Strunk www.strunk.ws
631-745-6402
Another good book on how to stop the "Let's turn boys and men into sissies" movement, is: "MAN OF STEEL AND VELVET" by Aubrey Andelin. It should be required reading for all ninth grade boys!
Rory
Dr. Sax:
I read your book. I am a mother of two sets of children ages 20 through 4.
My first set I have a son who is addicted to video games and is overweight. Since his father and I are divorced I get no support on eliminating the games from his daily routine as he lives with his father. Because I noticed his lack of interest in anything and his weight problem years ago, I decided to never let video games into my home.
Consequently, my 7 and 4 year old boys play with many kinds of toys and are outside everyday playing with friends and in their sandbox.
After reading your book I sent a copy to my ex and your web site. He has not responded. I don't know what to do to help my son but I want to get him out of this virtual world which has essentially turned him into a boy without motivation.
I want him to live with me full time again so I can get him into therapy for gaming addiction, nutrition counseling and get a part time job. He is playing football but it does not start till fall.
I will probably have to go to court to battle my ex for the right to help my son. I have been harping on this for 3 years now and when I read your book, all my fears surfaced.
I have thrown away all plastics in my home and have boycotted all plastic bottled beverages. I have told everyone I know about your book and the Phaylanes.
thank you for this timely book.
Joan
re. US struggling with the idea of bad plastics - here in Australia I recall the 'food-like tasting substances' I experienced on my first trip to the US - so full of chemical enhancers they looked great but tasted bad.
I think the US has more of a history of self-medication to avoid the higher costs of visits to doctors - Oz has more of a government Medicare scheme with free visits to doctors and discount prescription drugs, so we tend to associate chemicals with doctors and otherwise prefer to avoid them.
Just finished reading the book - loved it and am referring to it frequently in my discussions with peers.
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