tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post6064799360351994266..comments2023-10-16T07:40:38.179-05:00Comments on Hear me Roar: He gets hero worship, she gets laundryUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-32956408489980699502008-10-23T08:03:00.000-05:002008-10-23T08:03:00.000-05:00Adrienne, I didn't know "fiancé" read the blog too...Adrienne, I didn't know "fiancé" read the blog too sometimes! Very cool.<BR/><BR/>I absolutely agree with you that in many cases the consequences for stepping 'out of bounds' is harsher for young boys. While it is seen as brave or cool for girls to take up masculine things - sports, "helmet heroes" etc -- the idea of a boy playing in Sweet Lily Castle would make lots of parents panic.<BR/><BR/>I think that is just further proof that the patriarchy needs squishing! First of all, why are traditional “girl” activities devalues as “gross” while anyone participating in “manly/boyish” stuff is thought of as good? And why is it a parent’s worst nightmare if a son starts to exhibit feminine type behavior? Why do guys have no freedom at all to step one toe over the “masculine ideal” line? <BR/><BR/>It’s stifling and unhealthy and it leads to boys feeling the need to prove their ultimate ‘boy-ness’ by beating up on guys who they deem to sensitive or queer and writing off all things traditional female as stupid.<BR/><BR/>Yet another point in the ‘Feminism would HELP men’ category.<BR/><BR/>PS: I think you and M would do well with daughters!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-19511835438062249322008-10-23T06:37:00.000-05:002008-10-23T06:37:00.000-05:00I think that that is true of a lot of guys, staylo...I think that that is true of a lot of guys, staylor. My fiance and I had a HUGE argument about this post, and at the end of it even he had to concede that when he has his own daughter, he will probably feel differently (of course, he then reminded me that HE is not HAVING any DAUGHTERS) ;)<BR/><BR/>I think that this issue can be even worse for boys, though. I know that in my experience, it is seen (at best) as awesome when a girl breaks the social norms, and (at worst) cute when they do. But when a boy in my class wants to play with a doll/play dress up/put his hair in a pony tail (it happens) their parents are much more likely to freak out than if a little girl comes home talking about dinosaurs and being a fire fighter. <BR/><BR/>I once had a little guy who dressed up in a pink dress we had in our home center, and his dad picked him up and yelled at him. The little boy was totally crushed and said, "But Dad, this is my cape!" People are so freaked out about social norms and gender identity that they project their insecurities onto their two year olds. It's pathetic.Adriennehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04266729663068981756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-42711053830545956092008-10-21T14:55:00.000-05:002008-10-21T14:55:00.000-05:00This is something I didn't pay that much attention...This is something I didn't pay that much attention to until I had a kid of my own. But I had to argue with your thought that there isn't anything wrong with selling these things in theory: actually, I think the whole way these are sold is also wrong. The companies will argue that girls want to play princess and boys want to play fireman; I would argue that kids are TOLD they want to play these specific gender roles from the color and package design to the aggressive marketing like this.<BR/>You are right that it probably starts from the moment of birth, and the sexism never lets up no matter the older they get--it's just as adults we've become conditioned to accept it. I'm so glad there are blogs like this to give us a voice to shout THIS IS BULLSHIT!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com