[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…