The former president talked about the importance of having male role models other than fathers in the lives of boys and how to raise “emotionally intelligent” young men during his guest appearance on his wife and brother-in-law’s podcast.
Obama described how, while they were dating, he liked to visit Michelle at her home and see the range of male family members who each exhibited masculinity in their own unique manner. “And I believe that one of the things that boys frequently need is exposure to more than one male or father, regardless of how excellent the father is. Obama started, “He can’t be everything.” “And that boy may need somebody to give the boy some perspective on the dad right?”
Obama revealed how, when he initially started his class, one of his favorite college instructors would call him out for “saying stuff that was ignorant” because he was openly gay. The former president made the case that men need LGBTQ friends to serve as role models for their own children, who may come out as gay or non-binary, and to show them compassion and empathy.
He went on to say, “You need that, to show empathy and kindness,” If you have a boy who is gay, non-binary, or anything else, he will have someone to say, ‘Okay, I’m not alone in this,’ right? That’s why you need that person in your friend group. In my opinion, that is what is establishing that community.
I realize it seems cliche, but they require that. Obama also chastised progressives on the show for “rightly” attempting to “level” the playing field for girls while neglecting boys.
