Do Gender Stereotypes damage Children?

neneromanova

The funny thing is my uncle is sooo sterotypical with his kids. The best thing was when his eldest son was about 4, they were in toys r us and he had a tantrum as he wanted the pink sparkly barbie bike. His father went spare. My cousin settled for a purple hemlet instead

He always gets forced into things. He's forced to play rugby, do judo. Whereas their other child, a daughter, is such a tom boy it's unbelieveable :rotfl:

euronorris

laura.1984 wrote: »

"you're not supposed to play that, you're supposed to do ballet". But what is wrong with that. I have spoken to my h2b loads about if we have son and he wants to do ballet his reply he would be dragged to soccer. What is wrong with a girl being girly and a boy being a boy?

Well, if the girl is playing with the football, she should be allowed to. That doesn't mean you couldn't introduce her to ballet and see if she likes it. But, she should not be told that she 'isn't supposed' to do something just because it doesn't fit with the stereotype of typical girly things.

There's nothing wrong with a girl being 'girly' or a boy being 'boyish', so long as they are doing what they enjoy, and not what their parents have pushed/forced them to do.

euronorris

Money_maker wrote: »

I have a red 'boys' Thomas the Tank Engine t-shirt I bought for a friends little boy which I am currently considering giving to DD. She's mad about Thomas, and climbing, and getting dirty, and ditching anything put in her hair, and rolling around...

Did you clone me?! lol

Watch out for the grazed knees, hands etc. They're next! lol. Well, in fairness, she might not be as clumsy as me!

fernliebee

laura.1984 wrote: »

"you're not supposed to play that, you're supposed to do ballet". But what is wrong with that. I have spoken to my h2b loads about if we have son and he wants to do ballet his reply he would be dragged to soccer. What is wrong with a girl being girly and a boy being a boy?

Nothing if it's not enforced by the parents, and is the natural choice of the child. IMO the trouble with forcing stereotypical roles on children when they feel very differently is that they are made to feel that their choices are irrelevant and wrong. This can have a far reaching effect on their development especially as they get older and can have an impact on confidence and self esteem amongst other things. I also feel it is a bit neanderthal, and sad if a parent is so worried about it, almost as if they are ashamed of their own child

fernliebee

laura.1984 wrote: »

I dont think i would really want my daughter playing soccer. Im a girly girl and i would hope my daughter would be too.

Where is that darn rolleyes smiley when you need it!!

galvanizersbaby

Money_maker wrote: »

If only! I'm moving to wherever you live

My DD isn't in to flouncy pink dresses either - she sometimes wears a dress but she is more likely to choose a jumper dress and tights to mirror what I am wearing than anything frilly

With my DD I find she tends to want to wear what I am wearing to be grown up like a mummy - I can remember this as a child wanting to look grown up and experimenting with my mum's make-up :eek:

DS has quite a few red tops and a purple jumper but I have never brought him pink - not sure I have seen a pink top for boys and he doesn't often wear shirts.
He is more traditionally boyish than DD is girly I would say and is quite anti girls and anything he would consider girly - I think this may be more to do with having an annoying little sister though than any behaviours he has picked up from me and his father

xmaslolly76

I dont think it does damage unless the child dislikes what you are doing. As others have said dressing a girl in pink doesnt do any damage. Take my DD She was when younger a tom boy through and through but she still wanted to look like a girl even though she played with cars, skateboards, footballs and climbed trees she loved pink and makeup. As for my DS well he plays with boys toys but has often played dress up with his sister and when asked what he was dressed up as he said im a princess mommy I think young children like to experiment and we need to let them so a princess he would be for an hr or two :-)

neneromanova

fernliebee wrote: »

Where is that darn rolleyes smiley when you need it!!

I know, they seem to have taken quite a few of the ones we normally use off of the site!

retro_bluebell

laura.1984 wrote: »

I dont think i would really want my daughter playing soccer. Im a girly girl and i would hope my daughter would be too.

Why not if thats what makes her happy? I think if you force her into being something shes not then she will ultimately rebel.

retro_bluebell

neneromanova wrote: »

I know, they seem to have taken quite a few of the ones we normally use off of the site!

the rolly eyes are so appropriate sometimes though lol BTW nowt wrong with The Wright stuff (I have it on now) better than Jezza lol