I am of the opinion that MAPs, by and large, can provide great benefit to youth. Male sexuality brings with it a desire to protect, help, empower, shelter etc. These aspects can be good or bad if taken too far. However, they too can be corrupted. The way we are treated in society, the less mentally strong among us, break. They can truly become monsters through no fault of their own (though any actions they take are still their responsibility). Treat people like monsters and they become monsters.

I don't know, this is all just based on cursory research and logical deduction. It makes sense to me, however.

As for who has the power? In many cases there is a battle between family and state. For instance, the gender hysteria going on. Many parents, by state law, are kept in the dark as to what is going on in school and what teachers may be teaching their children. In some states, it is illegal to let parents know if a child wants to go by another gender if the child does not want them to know. On the flip side, sometimes parents are way too overbearing. If a child is homosexual, they may want to confide without their parents knowing, to a trusted adult. Conundrum. I tend toward power being in the hands of smaller groups or individuals rather than centralized in the hands of schools or the state. One family mistreating their children, who are few, is better than a school system mistreating thousands.

I fall back to social attitude. If a society simply respects children as autonomous beings with their own innate rights, wants, opinions etc. More harmony can be achieved. Obviously adults, especially if the child is particularly young, have to enact some power or force, but in a society that disrespects children, this gets abused more often.

I do enjoy thinking about this topic, exercises the brain.