They "leave girls at greater risk of dropping out of school or suffering physical and sexual violence," the report said. Boys who dress or behave in a way girls usually do are often bullied, teased and beaten. Such stereotypes expose girls to many dangers. They "leave girls at greater risk of dropping out of school or suffering physical and sexual violence," the report said. "And this message is being constantly reinforced," Blum said. Girls are expected to stick close to home and to quietly accept what others tell them to do or do to them. "By then it's probably too late to make a big difference." Such stereotypes expose girls to many dangers. Its results suggest that huge amounts of money are wasted on stereotype prevention programs for teenagers. In Baltimore, girls said that "they need to look appealing but not too appealing." The study found that from a very early age children learn to think of girls as weak and helpless, while boys are seen as "strong and independent," researcher Robert Blum said. Researchers found that gender stereotypes that emphasize female passivity can encourage abuse. Boys who "challenge gender norms by their dress or behavior" are widely seen as "socially inferior," the report said. They are at greater risk for both suicide and violence, the study warns. "And this message is being constantly reinforced," Blum said.