What is a Boy Moms Trend on Tiktok?

What is a Boy Moms Trend on Tiktok?

The "Boy Moms" trend on TikTok refers to a phenomenon where mothers, often referred to as "boy moms," share content related to their experiences and relationships with their sons. A TikTok post by a mom who often shares videos about her kids sparked controversy. She said she loves both her daughter and son, but her son "has her heart and soul" because she always wanted to be a "boy mom." People criticized this as favoritism based on gender, which could hurt her daughter.

Another trend on TikTok involves moms teaching their sons to cook so they won't be impressed by girls who can't cook. This started with a video by Laura Elizabeth Graham, who wanted her son to appreciate homemade meals from his future wife.

Many moms joined in, but others called it toxic, saying boys should learn to cook for themselves, not to judge others. Some people think this trend is toxic and reinforces outdated gender roles, while others argue that cooking skills are important for everyone to learn, regardless of gender.

Psychologist Amber Wardell shared her opinion, saying that teaching boys to cook should be about self-sufficiency and equality in relationships, not about putting down women or expecting them to take on traditional roles.

The trend has divided opinions about parenting and values, especially regarding gender roles and relationships.

What makes it so Controversial?

The "boy moms" trend on TikTok has sparked controversy primarily due to its perceived reinforcement of gender bias and traditional stereotypes. By emphasizing that sons should learn skills like cooking to be unimpressed by girls who lack these abilities, the trend suggests unequal expectations based on gender. This can contribute to toxic masculinity by prioritizing traditionally masculine traits over qualities like empathy and cooperation.

Additionally, the trend perpetuates outdated notions about domestic roles, implying that women should handle household tasks while men should not be impressed by such skills. Critics argue that parenting should focus on teaching essential life skills without attaching gendered expectations or promoting comparisons between boys and girls.

The trend's widespread visibility on social media platforms amplifies these concerns, sparking debates about gender equality, parenting styles, and the influence of online trends on societal norms.

What is Boy Mom?

The term "boy mom" has gained popularity online, particularly on platforms like TikTok, where it's often associated with a negative stereotype. A "boy mom" is seen as a parent overly fixated on their male children, sometimes at the expense of their female children or others in their lives.

This perception can arise from behaviors like favoring sons over daughters, expressing dislike for girls, romanticizing or hyper-fixating on sons, or showing obvious favoritism and coddling toward boys. On TikTok, people create skits and parodies that exaggerate these stereotypes, portraying "boy moms" as overprotective, competitive with daughters-in-law, or centering their lives solely around their sons.

While the term originally referred neutrally to mothers of boys, it has evolved into a label associated with cringy or embarrassing behavior online due to certain types of content shared by self-identified "boy moms" and the changing conversations around parenting and gender roles. Some still use the term positively, while others use it ironically or as a joke, depending on the context.

About Tiktok

TikTok is a video-sharing platform owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. Users can upload short videos ranging from three seconds to 60 minutes, accessible through a smartphone app. It's become hugely popular, especially among young people in Generation Z, with over two billion downloads globally as of April 2020. TikTok's recommendation algorithms are known for connecting content creators with new audiences effectively.

Despite its popularity, TikTok has faced criticism for issues like data privacy violations, mental health concerns, spreading misinformation, offensive content, and controversies related to events like the Israel–Hamas war. Some countries have fined or tried to restrict TikTok due to fears over user data collection by the Chinese government through ByteDance. However, it remains a significant platform for viral trends in areas like food and music, contributing to its cultural impact worldwide.