"positive images of masculinity"
One must ask just who is it that gets to define an attribute of "masculine" personality as "positive", or not.
Instead of trying to change boys natural inclinations toward a certain self-image, educators should be looking for better ways to communicate with boys on the boys terms.
I have long said that one of the main differences between males and females (particularly in their relations with each other) is that females want to be understood, males just want to be accepted.
Apply this to the young developing male and you can see where his educators need to be - quit trying to get him to explain himself to you, to "open up"; because if you just listen to a young male he is telling you who he is and where he is coming from, so meet him on his terms and you will "reach" him.
How is it that in generations past our education system produced so many fine, intelligent well-educated men, before it was believed there was something wrong with their "male" attitudes, yet all of a sudden young males cannot be educated unless they abandon "traditional" male "attitudes".
The problem is not young males, it's their educators.
Can someone tell me the downside to masculinity OR feminity? We are not the same by nature!!! When I need a helping hand with a bag of concrete....I wouldn't ask my girlfriend to lift it!! I'd ask my son!!