[LMB] Male and/or Female - toddlers

[Tzivia Adler]

> One thing I have noticed with mine is that there is huge variability
> between children. With two boys I cannot chalk those differences to
> gender, but I have seen parents with one of each who explain/blame them
> on the child's sex.
>
coming from a family of five sisters, having four sons - there's no boys do 
this and girls do that.


>> In other words, I'd rather see freedom of choice in the matter -
>> whatever constitutes 'choice'.
>
> Well, I don't see that much differences in toddlers. The peer and
> societal pressure gets applied very early though, and I could see the
> effects starting to show around age 2-2 1/2. It has little to do with
> freedom of choice and it is not pretty to watch. On either the boys or
> the girls (this fall my son stated extra curricular activities -- guess
> how many boys went for dance class?).
>
>
> Agnes
>
oh yes.  freedom of choice.  what a lovely idea.  in this season of 
gift-giving, we got a few toy cataloges, from manufacture like lego and form 
'educational toys' stores.

painting - boys and girls are pictured playing with the toy.
music - boys and girls.
alphabet and maps - boys and girls
tricylces - hers are pink, his are blue grey or black.
big toy cars (peddled with feet or walk them around) hers are bright pink, 
his are army camoflogue.
trains - only pictures of boys.
makeup - only pictures of girls.
magnetic building toys - girls
erector set, cranes - boys

even the blankets for bedding - his are animals, rockets, toys like buzz 
lightyear.  hers are disney princess, other forms of pink girlyness.

happy religion-neutral winter holiday, gender-neutral children with free 
choice!

ziviya