We are living through a period of turmoil in American culture and education, leaving American children—and their parents—caught in the crosshairs. American girls are suffering from unprecedented rates of anxiety and depression, driven by the pressure to perform on social media, confusion around gender identity, and the weakening bonds across generations. American boys, on average, are far less resilient or ambitious than they were twenty years ago; and the gender gap in academic achievement has widened dramatically, with boys now falling ever further behind. Internationally-acclaimed author Dr. Leonard Sax has drawn on over 30 years of clinical experience and scientific exploration to figure out what is at the root of these trends. Dr. Sax is the author of numerous books, including “Why Gender Matters,” “Boys Adrift,” “Girls on the Edge,” and “The Collapse of Parenting.” In his wide-ranging studies, he argues that many of the cultural challenges we face can be directly traced to parents abdicating their parental authority.
In this dynamic discussion, Caroline Bryk, executive director of the Jewish Parents Forum, is joined by Dr. Leonard Sax, M.D., Ph.D., to explore how contemporary American culture is impacting our children, how parents can reassert their authority, and how Jewish tradition can serve as an invaluable guide to human flourishing as our sons and daughters come of age.