Summary of “Boys and Girls” by Alice Munro

Summary of “Boys and Girls” by Alice Munro

The story “Boys and Girls” is told by a young unnamed girl who lives with her family on a fox farm in rural Ontario, Canada. Her father raises silver foxes for their fur, and she often helps him with outdoor chores—feeding the foxes, carrying water, and preparing food. She admires her father’s work and feels proud to assist him, believing it makes her important and capable.

Her mother, however, stays inside the house, cooking and doing domestic work. The girl dislikes her mother’s world and does not want to end up doing “women’s work.” She sees herself as strong and independent, different from the traditional idea of a girl.

As she grows older, people around her—including relatives—begin reminding her that she should act “like a girl.” Her younger brother Laird, who is still small, starts joining their father more often. Slowly, she realizes that society expects boys to be brave and outdoorsy, while girls are expected to be gentle and domestic.

The turning point comes when a horse named Flora escapes from the farm. The girl opens the gate, allowing Flora to run away instead of being shot. Her father and brother catch the horse, but later her father tells everyone, “She’s only a girl.” That comment deeply hurts her, showing that no matter what she does, people will see her as “just a girl.”