[Livia]

My son likes football and bugs and dirt. My daughter likes pink and sparkles and ballet dresses and fairies. Should I be worried about them conforming to gender stereotypes? Is this abnormal now we should all be encouraging children to choose their own style? It feels like I should be offering them a more gender-neutral childhood, despite their personalities being clear to me.

[BBXX]

Originally Posted by Livia

My son likes football and bugs and dirt. My daughter likes pink and sparkles and ballet dresses and fairies. Should I be worried about them conforming to gender stereotypes? Is this abnormal now we should all be encouraging children to choose their own style? It feels like I should be offering them a more gender-neutral childhood, despite their personalities being clear to me.

No if that’s what they like that’s great. The issue comes when parents force gender stereotypes on their child because they think that’s what they SHOULD like without considering what they actually like and want.

But I would say yes to letting children decide their own style. If a boy wants to play with dolls he shouldn’t be told they’re for girls etc etc…

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by BBXX

But I would say yes to letting children decide their own style. If a boy wants to play with dolls he shouldn’t be told they’re for girls etc etc…

Yea I had huge issues with my husband when my son was 3 or 4..he wanted his nails painted like his sister and my husband was all 'are you a girl?!' to him

I just painted them and dealt with the mood!

That remains the only gender non conforming thing my son ever did, besides wanting long hair (which is a weird one as go back 20 years or so and it was common for blokes)

[ChristmasNeeve]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Yea I had huge issues with my husband when my son was 3 or 4..he wanted his nails painted like his sister and my husband was all 'are you a girl?!' to him

I just painted them and dealt with the mood!

That remains the only gender non conforming thing my son ever did, besides wanting long hair (which is a weird one as go back 20 years or so and it was common for blokes)

When I was teenager long hair was my number 1 most attractive quality in a guy I was a big fan of the grunge scene though

[BBXX]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Yea I had huge issues with my husband when my son was 3 or 4..he wanted his nails painted like his sister and my husband was all 'are you a girl?!' to him

I just painted them and dealt with the mood!

That remains the only gender non conforming thing my son ever did, besides wanting long hair (which is a weird one as go back 20 years or so and it was common for blokes)

Totally - men's fashion in past eras would be considered super camp and feminine nowadays but looks awesome.

[ChristmasNeeve]

Originally Posted by Livia

My son likes football and bugs and dirt. My daughter likes pink and sparkles and ballet dresses and fairies. Should I be worried about them conforming to gender stereotypes? Is this abnormal now we should all be encouraging children to choose their own style? It feels like I should be offering them a more gender-neutral childhood, despite their personalities being clear to me.

Of course not, encouraging your child to wear what they like etc would cover both children who like the traditional gendered traits and those who don't.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Livia

My son likes football and bugs and dirt. My daughter likes pink and sparkles and ballet dresses and fairies. Should I be worried about them conforming to gender stereotypes? Is this abnormal now we should all be encouraging children to choose their own style? It feels like I should be offering them a more gender-neutral childhood, despite their personalities being clear to me.

Kids like what kids like. It's only an issue if you force stereotypes onto them, or decide them being gender non conforming means they are the opposite sex. Imo.

[BBXX]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Kids like what kids like. It's only an issue if you force stereotypes onto them, or decide them being gender non conforming means they are the opposite sex. Imo.

Totally agree!

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by Livia

My son likes football and bugs and dirt. My daughter likes pink and sparkles and ballet dresses and fairies. Should I be worried about them conforming to gender stereotypes? Is this abnormal now we should all be encouraging children to choose their own style? It feels like I should be offering them a more gender-neutral childhood, despite their personalities being clear to me.

Interesting…