Flashback Feminist Friday--Battling Gender Roles

 

Here we are in the 21^st Century and we are still battling strict gender roles.  The “boys should be playing with trucks not dolls” mentality still exists. I’m raising two sons ages 4 and 7 and I can verify that for a fact.  Here is a picture of a recent test my 1^st grader took at school.

 

 Over the past several years, my children and I have been subjected to many cruel comments and debates over the way I choose to let my sons play. I believe in “free play” letting children play and use their imagination. In our playroom you will find a variety of toys ranging from dolls to blocks and everything in between. We have a play kitchen, an art easel and a large wooden train table.  I can recall when I actually bought the play kitchen for my oldest son as a Christmas present several years ago.  My father picked it up for me on Black Friday and asked me, “Are you trying to make the boy a sissy?”

 

Rusty playing hair with a little friend last summer.  He was asking her, “Which one do you want? The bow or the band?”

 

After my youngest son Rusty was born, my oldest son loved to copy everything I did revolving around caring for his new brother.  He loved pretending to change diapers on his stuffed animals.  He would sit and pretend to feed them in the rocking chair. The best was when he tried his hand at baby wearing and fashioned his own Moby Wrap out of blanket for his baby doll. I remember being at a baseball game for my nephew and people started staring and whispering as he played with his doll.

 

 

Guy and his homemade Moby Wrap.

I sometimes wonder when and if we will ever break down the gender role barriers.  What can we gain as a society if we allow children to play and think freely?  Would it help to reduce sexism, machismo and discrimination?  Would it help to lower rates of domestic violence and rape?

 

 

 

Guy dressed as a ladybug for Halloween in 2009.  It resulted in many cruel comments from family and friends including, “Gay David” and not his real name “Guy David.” 

 

 

I know what my hope is for my two sons.  I hope they learn to be nurturing, empathetic and helpful young men. That they grow to understand that both genders are equal and certain tasks aren’t assigned to a certain sex.  I hope it helps them become better students, co-workers, significant others and maybe even fathers.

Submitted by Sara L.