Friday, September 27, 2013
EDUC 2120 Blog #4
In theory raising a child in a genderless environment would work, but unfortunately in reality I do not think it is completely possible. I understand wanting to not restrict your child to the gender stereotypes, but in my opinion it is more trouble than it is worth. I think it is entirely possible to raise a child and not have other people hold them to the gender roles society places on us. There are many children in my class whose parents let them play with a wide variety of toys, regardless of which gender those toys "belong in." One of the points in the article I agreed with was that when the parents make a big deal about there being no gender influences on the child, the parents are making a big deal about gender in general, which is what they are trying to avoid. I definitely don't think that a child will be confused about who they are if they grow up in a genderless environment. Your sex does not determine who you are as a person and what gender you will identify with. A child who is born a male could easily grow up feeling as if he is a female, even if his parents pushed society's gender roles on him. If parents want their child to grow up without the pressure of the stereotypical gender roles there are other ways to do it. For example, buy toys for the child that go with both genders, like blocks and an art set. This helps the child decide for themselves who they want to be without anyone, even the parents, deciding for them.
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I agree with a lot of what you said and as a future educator I can see a lot of validity in your argument but I think we should give the kids parents a little more credit. I don't think the method the parents are using to promote a lack of stereotypical gender identity in their kids is great but their motive is. I also think it is possible to raise a child without other people holding them to gender roles invented by our society but it is definitely not likely. You can't control what other people are going to say or do to your kids/students in their everyday life. and these stereotypes exist for a reason, because they are promoted consciously and subconsciously by almost everyone. You're right in saying that the child wont be confused later in life and I think the parents think the same way. They were trying to make an impact on societies roles for men and women according to gender and that is what is most important.
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