Which is normal?

I have to disagree with this idea of girls and boys being 'pushed' to do things that are so-called stereotypes. I have three daughters and two sons, and four male grandchildren and three female... The boys have invariably leant towards things that have wheels and can be pushed along, or that move via some means; and while the girls are interested in this, they prefer (note that word) to play at building houses out of Duplo, and decorating them, or dressing and undressing the dolls we have round the house. The boys just haven't shown much interest in dolls from day one... It isn't all environment...

Oh so true! And it is reinforced in adulthood. I mean when's the last time you asked a woman to rebuild an engine for you and a man to clean your house? The stereotype stays with us to the grave. But fortunately, I can do both, so I will not be offending anyone by asking them, based on gender, to do something for me. Lucky me.

Exactly why I said "I would say there are many factors" And the first was personal prefrence. I have a feeling you are pushing your children and grand children you just don't realize it. The boys are drawn to things with wheels because the things with wheels are purchased for them and given to them to play with. Same with the dolls and houses. I have a twin niece and nephew and sure enough the boy looooooooooves his barbies and the only truck he plays with is a bright pink Barbie one that his dad got him not realizing it was a girls toy.

That is an interesting point - gift. I know there is a point at which one becomes "gifted" in a certain ability, but I hadn't thought of being mechanically inclined as being a gift. Hmmm. More food for thought. Thanx!

If you knew my wife you'd know that she was gifted with mechanical ability....plus what she's learned along the way as a result of having that gift. I'm gifted in the music and writing area, things that she can't do to save herself.

How funny! Next discussion: Do opposites attract?

That's what the auntie also had as a child! Erector set,she called it vs. connect its. Ironically, my mom didn't want me to have those. Would be to big a mess left around the house she said. Humphf! Slowly but surely what you say is true. The more women are encouraged to enter these predominately male fields, the more that actually enter. Maybe someday it won't be considered an odd thing for women to be working in a particular field. Hopefully it will be just considered as a normal thing for women to do.

Well, hats off to Catherine! We are always in need of more brilliance amongst us. Glad to know she set her goals high and achieved them!

Exactly what I have observed. I still miss my auto mechanic Barbie... Seriously, I as well as my sis, got exactly that treatment. I wasn't allowed to vacuum or do laundry, even after showing that I could do both well, by mom. Dad wouldn't let sis run the lawnmower or work the garden, period. So, now she's a quality control inspector for a mechanical engineering firm and I'm a hairdresser. Just kidding. I do believe these things were done in sincerity with regards to making us better people all around. But it is obviously short sighted. I think women should be able to handle mechanically challenging things as well, to what ever level their interest takes them.

Excellent point! I've often thought there shouldn't be a difference ability wise and it seems that the studies conclude the same. But like you said, the environment in which we are raised, determines the outcome.