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A boy is a young
male human. The term is commonly used for a
child
A child ( : children) is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The legal definition of ''child'' generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger ...
or an
adolescent. When a male human reaches adulthood, he is described as a
man.
Definition, etymology, and use
According to the ''Merriam-Webster Dictionary'', a boy is "a male child from birth to adulthood".
The word "boy" comes from
Middle English ''boi, boye'' ("boy, servant"), related to other
Germanic words for ''boy'', namely
East Frisian ''boi'' ("boy, young man") and
West Frisian ''boai'' ("boy"). Although the exact
etymology is obscure, the English and Frisian forms probably derive from an earlier
Anglo-Frisian *''bō-ja'' ("little brother"), a diminutive of the Germanic root *''bō-'' ("brother, male relation"), from
Proto-Indo-European *''bhā-'', *''bhāt-'' ("father, brother"). The root is also found in
Norwegian dialectal ''boa'' ("brother"), and, through a reduplicated variant *''bō-bō-'', in
Old Norse ''bófi'',
Dutch ''boef'' "(criminal) knave, rogue",
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
''Bube'' ("knave, rogue, boy"). Furthermore, the word may be related to ''Bōia'', an
Anglo-Saxon
The Anglo-Saxons were a Cultural identity, cultural group who inhabited England in the Early Middle Ages. They traced their origins to settlers who came to Britain from mainland Europe in the 5th century. However, the ethnogenesis of the Anglo- ...
personal name.
Specific uses
Race
Historically, in the United States and South Africa, "boy" was not only a "neutral" term for domestics but also a disparaging term towards black men; the term implied a subservient status.
Thomas Branch, an early African-American Seventh-day Adventist missionary to Nyassaland (
Malawi) referred to the native students as "boys":Multiple politicians – including New Jersey Governor
Chris Christie and former Kentucky Congressman
Geoff Davis – have been criticized publicly for referring to a black man as "boy".
During an event promoting the 2017
boxing bout between
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Floyd Joy Mayweather Jr. (''né'' Sinclair; February 24, 1977) is an American boxing promoter and former professional boxer. He currently owns a team in the NASCAR Cup Series named The Money Team Racing. As a professional boxer he competed b ...
and
Conor McGregor, the latter told the former to "dance for me, boy."
The remarks led several boxers – including Mayweather and
Andre Ward – as well as multiple commentators to accuse McGregor of racism.
Biology
Sex determination
Human sex is determined at
fertilization when the
genetic
sex
Sex is the trait that determines whether a sexually reproducing animal or plant produces male or female gametes. Male plants and animals produce smaller mobile gametes (spermatozoa, sperm, pollen), while females produce larger ones (ova, oft ...
of the
zygote has been initialized by a
sperm
Sperm is the male reproductive cell, or gamete, in anisogamous forms of sexual reproduction (forms in which there is a larger, female reproductive cell and a smaller, male one). Animals produce motile sperm with a tail known as a flagellum, whi ...
cell containing either an X or Y chromosome. If this sperm cell contains an
X chromosome, it will coincide with the X
chromosome of the
ovum
The egg cell, or ovum (plural ova), is the female reproductive cell, or gamete, in most anisogamous organisms (organisms that reproduce sexually with a larger, female gamete and a smaller, male one). The term is used when the female gamete is ...
and a
girl will develop. A sperm cell carrying a Y chromosome results in an XY combination, and a boy will develop.
In utero development and genitalia
![Rural_Boys](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Rural_Boys.jpg)
In male embryos at six to seven weeks' gestation, "the expression of a gene on the Y chromosome induces changes that result in the development of the testes". At approximately nine weeks' gestation, the production of testosterone by a male embryo results in the development of the male reproductive system.
![School pupil of Darumawang El](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/School_pupil_of_Darumawang_El._school_%287414531682%29.jpg)
The
male reproductive system includes both external and internal organs. The external organs include the
penis, the
scrotum, and the
testicles (or testes). The penis is a cylindrical organ filled with spongy tissue. It is the organ used by boys to expel
urine. The foreskin of some boys' penises is removed in a process known as
circumcision. The scrotum is a loose sac of skin behind the penis which contains the testicles. Testicles are oval-shaped gonads. A boy generally possesses two testicles. Internal male reproductive organs include the
vas deferens, the
ejaculatory ducts
The ejaculatory ducts (''ductus ejaculatorii'') are paired structures in male anatomy. Each ejaculatory duct is formed by the union of the vas deferens with the duct of the seminal vesicle. They pass through the prostate, and open into the ureth ...
, the
urethra, the
seminal vesicles, and the
prostate gland.
Physical maturation
Puberty is the process by which children's bodies mature into adult bodies that are capable of reproduction. On average, boys begin puberty at ages 11–12 and complete puberty at ages 16–17.
In boys, puberty begins with the enlargement of the testicles and scrotum. The penis also increases in size, and a boy develops pubic hair. A boy's testicles also begin making sperm. The release of semen, which contains sperm and other fluids, is called ejaculation.
During puberty, a boy's erect penis becomes capable of
ejaculating
Ejaculation is the discharge of semen (the ''ejaculate''; normally containing sperm) from the male reproductory tract as a result of an orgasm. It is the final stage and natural objective of male sexual stimulation, and an essential component ...
semen and impregnating a
female.
A boy's first ejaculation is an important milestone in his development. On average, a boy's first
ejaculation occurs at age 13.
[(Jorgensen & Keiding 1991).] Ejaculation sometimes occurs during sleep; this phenomenon is known as a
nocturnal emission.
When a boy reaches puberty,
testosterone triggers the development of secondary sex characteristics. A boy's muscles increase in size and mass, his voice deepens, his bones lengthen, and the shape of his face and body changes.
The increased secretion of testosterone from the testicles during puberty causes the male secondary sexual characteristics to be manifested. Male secondary sex characteristics include:
![Plantel Riodike FC 2015](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/Plantel_Riodike_FC_2015.jpg)
* Growth of
body hair
Body hair, or androgenic hair, is the terminal hair that develops on the human body during and after puberty. It is differentiated from the head hair and less visible vellus hair, which is much finer and lighter in color. The growth of androge ...
, including
underarm,
abdominal
The abdomen (colloquially called the belly, tummy, midriff, tucky or stomach) is the part of the body between the thorax (chest) and pelvis, in humans and in other vertebrates. The abdomen is the front part of the abdominal segment of the torso. ...
,
chest, and
pubic
In vertebrates, the pubic region ( la, pubis) is the most forward-facing (ventral and anterior) of the three main regions making up the coxal bone. The left and right pubic regions are each made up of three sections, a superior ramus, inferior ra ...
hair.
* Growth of
facial hair
Facial hair is hair grown on the face, usually on the chin, cheeks, and upper lip region. It is typically a secondary sex characteristic of human males. Men typically start developing facial hair in the later stages of puberty or adolescence, ...
.
* Enlargement of
larynx
The larynx (), commonly called the voice box, is an organ in the top of the neck involved in breathing, producing sound and protecting the trachea against food aspiration. The opening of larynx into pharynx known as the laryngeal inlet is about ...
(Adam's apple) and deepening of
voice.
* Increased
stature
Stature may refer to:
* Human stature, the distance from the bottom of the feet to the top of the head in a human body, standing erect
* Reputation, social opinion about an entity
* Respect
Respect, also called esteem, is a positive feeli ...
; adult males are taller than adult females, on average.
* Heavier
skull and
bone structure
A structure is an arrangement and organization of interrelated elements in a material object or system, or the object or system so organized. Material structures include man-made objects such as buildings and machines and natural objects such as ...
.
* Increased
muscle
Skeletal muscles (commonly referred to as muscles) are organs of the vertebrate muscular system and typically are attached by tendons to bones of a skeleton. The muscle cells of skeletal muscles are much longer than in the other types of muscl ...
mass and strength.
* Broadening of
shoulders and chest; shoulders wider than hips.
* Increased secretions of oil and
sweat gland
Sweat glands, also known as sudoriferous or sudoriparous glands, , are small tubular structures of the skin that produce sweat. Sweat glands are a type of exocrine gland, which are glands that produce and secrete substances onto an epithelial sur ...
s.
Gender norms
Boys who defy gender norms may face a higher risk of abuse, and may experience more depression than gender-conforming peers, as well as
social stigma from parents and peers.
In some cultures, the birth of a male child (boy) is considered prosperous.
Boys and child labor
Boys perform the majority of
child labor around the world compared to girls, 88 million are boys and 64 million are girls. Boys are also the primary victims of
hazardous child labor. They are mainly employed in
agriculture,
construction and
mining sectors. Boy workers also account for about 87 percent of those who died on the job between 2003 and 2016 in the US.
Boys are given a basic reading, writing and mathematics skill and then forced to pursue their father's profession in order to alleviate financial burden of the family. This is one of the main reasons why boys are preferred over girl by the rural communities in poor countries. In
India, by contrast, the majority of adopted children are girls even though boys are preferred in general compared to girls.
See also
*
Boy band
A boy band is loosely defined as a vocal group consisting of young male singers, usually in their teenage years or in their twenties at the time of formation. Generally, boy bands perform Love song, love songs marketed towards girls and young ...
*
Man
*
Shōnen manga
References
Further reading
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External links
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Boyhood Studies website and journal for the study of boys
Historical Boys' Clothing
{{Authority control
Childhood
Men
Terms for men