Boys In Pink, Girls In Blue. Is This Stereotype One That is True? All About Stereotypes & Breaking The Mold.

 

Boys In Pink, Girls In Blue. Is This Stereotype One That is True? All About Stereotypes & Breaking The Mold.

 6-29-2012

My twins are 27 months, 3 weeks, and 6 days old.

 

 

I’ll admit it. If I see a small child dressed a certain way I make an assumption (internally) about the sex. Maybe even try and figure it out mentally if I am truly that bored which isn’t often. (I won’t be doing this again after writing this article.) However, if at ALL confused, just like an older mom or dad or a belly where I just can’t be certain it holds a baby inside of it, I keep my foot out of my mouth.

 

I stuck it in there once and I refuse to do it again. (I thought a mother of triplet, toddler boys was for sure the grandmother, but she was in fact the mom..yet 53 years of age.) I just realize you never do know nowadays.

 

I was reading something this morning about gender equality, and how there are certain double standards that start out very early in life. One of them happens to be about how we dress our children from birth on up. Most parents try to go with what we have all grown up learning is quote un quote ‘normal’ which is a double standard, but seemingly most acceptable in society today, right or wrong.

 

 ’Pink is fine for girls not boys, and blue is fine for boys and girls. Short hair is fine on both girls and boys, but long hair is only for girls not boys. Not unless they are older and in an 80′s-style teenage rock band or something.’ Is it ok to break through the mold though? We might say yes, but most times society will say no.

 

Boy with long hair actually expelled from school!

 While I have personally only seen a boy in pink once, I have seen plenty of children where you just can’t tell their gender. This mostly is the case of a boy turning out to be a girl. The long hair, or the style of clothing. And then when in doubt the shoes. (Like it’s any of our business.) Usually a friend of mine will point it out and ask me. Guess with only one child to tend to she gets bored .

 

I always tell my kids if any child or adult looks different then what you are used to, NEVER treat them any differently. Never stare at them, make them feel in any way ashamed or embarrassed, always be kind to them, and never even think about bullying them. I was in that place as an awkward teen and it affects me greatly to this very day.

 In school they are attempting to make some progress with today’s youth. They try and sway our children against bullying geared towards stereotypes. And after a boy took his life after wearing a pink shirt to school and was viciously ridiculed for it. Once a month both boys and girls in our school district are asked to wear a pink shirt to honor this child and try and help break stereotypes while also showing that bullying is wrong.

 

‘If you want to make fun of me, then you’ll have to make fun of everybody else.’ That is their premise. Will it change the world? Not likely. Is it a start? Perhaps so. People don’t just make verbal ASSumptions about school-aged children. Many a time even dressed in pink with a bow, little Annaliese because of her lack of hair was many, many times without a doubt to these strangers, deemed a boy. ”How perfect, you have a boy and a girl.” ”Um..NO lady..I don’t!” Besides, why is that perfect? My 2 girls ARE perfect!

 

 J.Crew creative director Jenna Lyons caused a bit of an ruckus last year when she was featured in an ad painting her young son’s toenails hot pink. “This is a dramatic example of the way that our culture is being encouraged to abandon all trappings of gender identity,” said FoxNews.com columnist Keith Ablow. Maybe one day in fact these stereotypes WILL be broken.

I mean what harm is there really if a little boy child likes to play with his sister’s barbie doll? What harm is there if a little girl enjoys playing with her brother’s monster truck? Does this mean your child will turn out to be gay? Absolutely not in my opinion. AND If my child were to turn out to be gay would I love them any less? Also, absolutely not.

 I just don’t believe like some people do (mostly men) that any of these things mean anything about future sexual preference. They do not in this woman’s opinion and in the opinions of many others.

 

It’s time to get back to the heart of things. Love our children for who and what they are. Teach them to be confident and love themselves. Raise them with morals, values, and a strong sense of self. And regardless of some of the things in the world outside of a parent’s control, they will do just fine. Raise them to believe in stereotypes, and we are raising a close-minded, next generation.

 

I’m not saying you have to dress your boys in pink to make this point, but teach them to be individuals, love themselves as is, not to ever judge others, and never let another person tear them down. There is too much hate in the world. It’s time people see that male or female we are all equal and were all created in God’s beautiful image.