I find myself guilty of sexism
By vicki2876
@vicki2876 (5636)
Canada
April 7, 2008 11:14am CST
Someone gave us a pink skipping rope for easter. My daughter is almost 13 so I didn't think she would want it. So I put it in my stuff as a "workout" skipping rope as I thought my two boys 8 and 6 wouldn't want a pink rope. Also I didn't think they would be into skipping as I thought it was a "girl" thing to do. Well I was so wrong. All of them loved the rope and I ended up going to the store and buy a few more so we all can skip together. I feel bad I robbed my boys of years of fun because of my sexist thoughts. But I have learned, better late than never.
I always thought myself to be open minded when it came to my children. The boys had dolls and did many traditional girly things but this one flew right past me.
Have you been guilty of doing this to your children too?
3 responses
This weekend she caught a lizard in the woods. We're going to find her a terrarium to keep it in today.@vicki2876 (5636)
• Canada
8 Apr 08
LMAO I can see that you would. Well I was a tom boy and so was my daughter. We had the lizards, frogs and snakes as pets. COOL
@SViswan (12051)
• India
11 Apr 08
No, never did it.
My older son who is 7 now...had so called girlish things that he liked.....maybe because there were more girls who were his age where we lived....and I never stopped him from playing with them. Even when I got him toys, I always checked what he wanted before buying him anything that was boyish. He never played with the cars and balls that we got him.
But my younger one's a typical boy. And we realized early on that he didn't want the soft toys and he was more interested in cars and balls.
Dolls have been a favourite with my older one.
1 person likes this
@SViswan (12051)
• India
12 Apr 08
I understand what you are saying....and since I have two boys I won't get into that fix...lol
But you couldn't have guessed that the boys would want a skipping rope if they didn't ask for it. It just didn't cross your mind that they might enjoy it too. That's not sexism:)
I had another parent tease me when they saw my 5 year son skipping rope with the girls....and she was a doctor! I think she should have known better than to say that. It's when educated people give me a lecture on how boys and girls are different (I'm not denying that there are differences...but things like....'boys are boistrous' and 'girls are dainty'....and it's easier to discipline girls and not boys...really get to me. My son is pretty well behaved than some other girls - including the doctor's daughter - that I know) and how I shouldn't let him play with girls' stuff like dolls and skipping rope...or a hula loop. I don't want to push cars down his throat when he isn't interested.
I'm still thinking if I've been guilty of 'sexism'...the most I can think of is buying a neighbour's daughter....a box of beads to make necklaces and I never thought of it for my son...but he enjoys making necklaces for the girls when he's at her house.
1 person likes this
@vicki2876 (5636)
• Canada
12 Apr 08
I understand how you would be frustrated when educated people tell you the "facts" about girls and boys. It is total nonsense. I think each child has a different character and should be allowed to express themselves.
Thanks
@vicki2876 (5636)
• Canada
11 Apr 08
I know if he asked for it I would have got it but he didn't until show any interest in ropes until it was here. Like you say if they ask I would do it regardless of whether it is traditionally a girly toy. I just never thought to give him one anyways. Where with my daughter, she didn't ask but I still got her a rope.
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
7 Apr 08
My son likes a few things that I would consider girly, but I always let him play with them. I figure as long as it is making him happy it should not matter if it is girly or a boy thing to play with. I was a tom boy when I was growing up, so I figured why not let him go the other way with it.
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