This is a fantastic comment. To provide some anecdotal evidence (which I realize isn't much) I can compare where I grew up (Urban India) vs where I went to Univ

This is a fantastic comment. To provide some anecdotal evidence (which I realize isn't much) I can compare where I grew up (Urban India) vs where I went to University (Urban North America) and can see some Stark differences. There is a much more safety and risk averse culture here for kids growing up and there is an epidemic of over policing of children. Back home, I could run around and play in the streets without much parental oversight as early as the age of six. All I had to do was get back before dark and my parents made it very clear if I didn't there would be significant consequences (I was never beaten so you can make children understand it without the threat of corporeal punishment). However here, CPS can be called if you leave your child unattended in your backyard. My theory is that since boys hitting puberty are driven towards riskier behaviour thanks to testosterone (they just have more physical energy than girls that needs to be expended and mundane activities rarely suffice), this policing culture that no longer fits that style of exploration takes it upon themselves to neuter young boys. It's a sorry state of affairs, but unfortunately I don't see a way to fix it without getting mired down in identity politics