<<Rant Alert>>
As a non-girly girl myself and the mother of a young daughter, I would like an explanation as to why, in the year 2010, we as a society are still pushing outdated and frankly, offensive gender roles on children. Why does the McDonalds drive through ask if you want a boy toy or a girl toy with a happy meal? What if I have boy who wants the princess or a girl who wants the robot? Harassing the teenager at the cash register wouldn’t solve anything and would just make me look like a kook.
Toys R Us, which I avoid at all costs anyway, pisses me off every time I go in. Tell me why action figures are only for boys and kitchen sets are only for girls. And everything for girls is pink! An ocean of pink. Even the board games are pink! Why?! What purpose does it serve to insist that girls be sweet and docile and boy be active and war-like? (Guns as toys may very well be a later rant.) Teaching girls to be “lady-like” is NOT preparing them for life. I can’t even count how many grown women I know who are still trying to overcome that early childhood training to be nice – in other words, passive.
We went out to buy Pinky a new winter coat. Want one that’s not pink? Tough shit for you! They evidently only manufacture pink. (By the way, we call her Pinky because when she gets really mad, her whole body turns fuscia. Definitely not lady-like)
The world will have millions of opportunities to make Pinky doubt herself as she grows up. Is it too much to ask that she be given at least a year or two to develop her own personality and preferences? If at that point, she wants to be a pink princess, then fine – I’ll get over it. Based on her personality, she will probably want to wear pink sequins, while playing full-contact football.
I want both of my children to have every opportunity, to seek authentic happiness, and to feel at ease with who they are. Is that too much to ask? I did some research and I’m happy (and relieved) to report that I’m not the only ranting mom. Check out Pink Stinks. A campaign in the UK for seeking out true, realistic role models for girls and for calling out corporations that manufacture products for children and perpetuate the narrow interpretation of what girls should like.
I’m going now to dress my baby girl in green and pour myself a cocktail.
Even though I only have boys, I agree whole heartedly! It was hard shopping for them when they were little. All the boy stuff was pretty geeky, unless you were willing to spend a fortune at the Gap. Even then, the Gap stuff wasn’t always to my taste. I’m glad my boys are older and can choose for themselves.
That’s true Kellie – there aren’t a lot of choices for little boys either.
All my daughter wanted for her birthday was Lightning McQueen underpants. Nowhere. To. Be. Found. Because only boys like “Cars,” you see?
So we bought her the boy kind, and she loves them. Take that, society!
I love it! Thanks Stacia!
So being 6 months pregnant and knowing that I am having a girl…. I am finding it tough to find cute things that also are not pink. So far I have kind of locked on to greens and bright colors in general, but it is definitely a challenge. I want my little girl to be strong and not think she has to be dainty in pink… I don’t wear pink, why should she?
On the flip side – I do have to admit my husband has a couple of pink shirts, and I think they look awesome on him, and am happy he has the confidence to wear them
and the kitchen sets? She will learn from watching daddy as he is the cook in this house.
Who needs predefined gender rolls anyway?
Thanks Ann – a belated congratulations on the baby! There’s nothing better than men who wear pink confidently, especially when they cook too!
This post hits home for me, too! It’s so frustrating when my daughters favorite color was green and it was so hard to find green clothes. And the McD’s toy thing–sure enough, I get a boy toy for my son and a girl one for my daughter and then they each want what the other has! Great blog–feel free to check mine out: whatsthebestthatcanhappen.blogspot.com.
Thanks Stefanie! I’ve already been to your blog – it’s great! I added it to my list of regulars.