#MeToo movement highlights question for parents: How to raise good men

The #MeToo movement that has encouraged women to speak out about their experiences of sexual harassment or assault, contributing to a recent wave of prominent American men facing accusations of sexual misconduct, has also sparked another conversation -- on parenting.

A key question coming to the fore is how best to raise boys so that they grow up to be kind men who treat women as equals and with respect.


PHOTO: From top left, Harvey Weinstein, Mark Halperin, Louis C.K., Charlie Rose, Matt Lauer, Glenn Thrush, Jeffery Tambor, Dustin Hoffman, Russell Simmons and Kevin Spacey. (Getty Images)
More
Matt Damon opens up about Harvey Weinstein, sexual harassment and confidentiality agreements

The 'silence breakers' of #MeToo movement named Time magazine's 2017 person of the year

“Good Morning America” is taking an in-depth look at that conversation by speaking with boys, parents and experts about raising good men.

“GMA” correspondent T.J. Holmes went straight to the source, speaking with six boys, ages 7 to 10, in the Houston area.


PHOTO: ABC News' T. J. Holmes speaks with a group of boys ages seven to 10 in the Houston area. (ABC News)
More
Some of the boys said when told to “man up” you are being told to be “tough” and “strong.”

That raised a red flag for one expert, Dr. David Anderson, a child psychologist at New York’s Child Mind Institute.

“They've gotten some of those social messages about being rough and tough and, you know, that girls are frail and those kinds of things,” said Anderson, who watched the interview with the boys from another room with their parents.

“The boys grow older, and we want to give them a much more diverse idea of what it means to be a good person, that it's important to be kind for everybody, that it's important to protect everyone,” Anderson said.


PHOTO: ABC News' T.J. Holmes, far right, and Dr. David Anderson, far left, pose with parents and their sons in the Houston area. (ABC News)
More
One mom praised her husband for helping to teach their 7-year-old son about respect by reminding him to open doors for his mom and sister.


PHOTO: 'Good Morning America' is taking an in-depth look at that conversation by speaking with boys, parents and experts about raising good men. (ABC News)
More
Anderson said such parenting, modeling and encouragement of good behavior is important whether it comes from a male or female parent.

"It's catching the boys doing the things that you want to make sure they do more of," he said. "And that takes being there and having those conversations, saying, 'I was really proud of how you acted in that moment.'"


PHOTO: Some of the boys said when told to 'man up' you are being told to be 'tough' and 'strong.' (ABC News)
More
Anderson told the parents of the six boys that they, like any generation of parents, have new topics they have to address with their sons based on the “news of the day,” in this case, sexual harassment.


PHOTO: 'Good Morning America' is taking an in-depth look at that conversation by speaking with boys, parents and experts about raising good men. (ABC News)
More
Anderson advised the parents that their sons may not fully understand the topic but, with open conversation, this generation of kids can move society forward