Can boys play with dolls and girls like math? From the time we are born, we are all assigned certain roles and expectations based on our genders. This starts in childhood, when girls are praised for being cute and sweet, and boys are encouraged to be curious and rambunctious.
This might not seem very influential, but stereotypes based on sex can limit people for life. When girls are young, they typically play with dolls, which develops interpersonal intelligence, and they’re given chores like cleaning and cooking. Boys, on the other hand, often have trucks and building blocks, which develops spatial intelligence, and they’re given chores like mowing the grass.
It is often assumed that boys are naturally better at math and science, while girls are better at more creative subjects, like English or art. But it is not the gender itself that has children developing interests, but the roles they have been forced into since infancy.
Androgyny combines typical “male” and “female” characteristics to create a well-rounded person with a unique set of skills. Parents who raise their children androgynously make it easier for their sons to have increased social and interpersonal skills, and daughters to have better analytical and spatial skills.
Instead of limiting children based on their sex, playing with “opposite-sex” toys should be encouraged. By allowing boys to play with dolls and girls to build towers with blocks, they become children (and later, adults) who aren’t categorized based on their gender. Particularly, this allows women to have more confidence and a stronger voice, while men can become more intuitive and understanding.
Every family can benefit from an androgynous parenting style, as each child is treated as equally as possible. Rather than pigeonholing a daughter as weak and uncoordinated, either parent might play catch with her in the backyard, or teach her to paint the fence. Similarly, boys can learn to cook and clean, which can make them more independent and calm.
Typical phrases such as “boys will be boys” make it seem like it is accepted for little boys to run around and be loud, but little girls, then, must be quiet and docile. This can limit a young man’s potential in the classroom if he is never expected to be obedient and well-behaved, as well as limit a young woman’s creativity and confidence.
Male parents are often the culprits for reinforcing strong gender roles for their sons, as boys are often discouraged from playing with dolls (lest they might become a “sissy”). It is more accepted for girls to behave in a traditional male role, but boys are often ridiculed if they become interested in something “girly,” such as playing with a kitchen set.
The term “tomboy” is not an insult, while “sissy” is; this allows for sexual discrimination, making it seem like typical female activities are weak and useless, while typical male activities are important and necessary. Not only is this untrue, but it’s extremely limiting for a boy who would like to venture into the realm of a typical girl’s experience.
Putting increased value on a girl’s appearance and a boy’s productivity leads to unfair expectations later in life. Men are demanded to be protectors and bread-winners, often being overlooked for their talents and social interactions.
Conversely, women are expected to be attractive housekeepers, making women who are “unattractive” and independent mocked. Strong, independent women are sometimes called “lesbians,” because being confident and intelligent is often thought of as a man’s trait.
By becoming more open-minded and testing alternative parenting styles, future generations can help to decrease discrimination and allow more well-rounded people. Androgynous children can be more skilled without being limited to the roles of their gender, something that should be the concern
of anyone who wishes to start a family.
