tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461948747659071092.post3180102661549751527..comments2023-09-29T02:49:02.989-07:00Comments on An Emphatic Umph: On Childhood & Parenting, or In Defense of the Kids' TableDaniel Coffeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03912050391869734890noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461948747659071092.post-8481943099178517142014-01-21T13:28:42.701-08:002014-01-21T13:28:42.701-08:00Amy, thanks for posting. And, oy, that's a to...Amy, thanks for posting. And, oy, that's a tough one. As parents, we want to forge a world of gender equality, not a world of gender sameness (at least I don't think we do; I don't, anyway: I like differences). So we can ask how much is nature and how much is nurture but I think that's a false dichotomy. To me, the more interesting and challenging question is: How is my kid going? Is he thriving? Is he a delight? Is he kind and interesting and engaged and thoughtful and playful? I, for one, don't care if he's playing with a truck or a doll.<br /><br />So when it comes to my role in all this, well, I just lay it out there. If I were to "force" him to play with dolls, will this help erase gender inequality? Maybe, if he continues to play with dolls. But maybe he rebels and says, Screw you, pop, I'm gonna play with trucks!<br /><br />All of this is to say, kids are not tabula rasas (rasae?). They are inclined from the get go; true, they become enmeshed in discourses that exceed and define them. And, yes, they see various ways to make sense of these discourses. But they are a way unto themselves and will do what they will do. <br /><br />So, again, I just lay it all out there to my son. I say: this is what some people think, this is what I think, what do you think?<br /><br />Not sure if addressed your question or not....Daniel Coffeenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912050391869734890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461948747659071092.post-2554220641618447002014-01-17T21:49:49.281-08:002014-01-17T21:49:49.281-08:00Interesting, what are your thoughts on the gendere...Interesting, what are your thoughts on the gendered upbringing of children and the perpetuation of such by society? <br />I find it all rather sickening myself, but it is understandable that peer criticism is likely to occur if, for example, a male child plays with dolls in elementary school. My Adolescent Psychology professor went about raising her own son the same as she did her daughter. Neither were given any specific gender-based activities or toys. The boy played with dolls much the same as the girl did, however they inherently played differently based on their perceptions of their parents roles. Her son played with the male dolls driving around in the toy convertible and dropping off the women to go shopping. I find it of utmost interest the ways in which children simply soak in their environments and reflect them back. <br />It also makes me wonder is the physiological findings of male and female baby-toddler muscle control is affected by gendered upbringings. Girls develop their smaller muscles before boys, which leads to their advancement in fine motor skills. Boys on the other hand develop gross motor skills to a more advanced level than girls tend to. I wonder if it isn't the mothers push for her daughter to draw and write, while the father leans towards teaching his son to play soccer or some other sport. <br />Anyway, let me know what you think.ALee Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01751028797787895958noreply@blogger.com