How We Teach Children Their Gender Roles: An interesting story (long)

[Bathsheba]

I've seen that phenomenon too Ausgirl, both where I worked at an ELC and at home with my own children. Boys are naturally more interested (generally speaking) in movement and mechanics... wheels fascinated my boys from babyhood more than they ever did with my DD when she was a baby (and she had toy cars too).

But like Leasha said it becomes a problem when parents assume that boys and girls ONLY like boy and girl toys and clothing.

I bought my DD a few dolls and a few cars/ train set. But on the whole I bought mainly gender neutral toys for her: lots of Duplo/Lego/jigsaws/other puzzles/books/musical instruments/art supplies. It's not that hard to buy gender neutral toys.... not as hard as it is to buy gender neutral clothing! And when I had my boys gee was I relieved that I didn't then have to go out and buy a whole new lots of toys for them! Neutrality is thrifty! Maybe that's why toy and clothing companies like to create the big divide when it comes to genderising our children? To reap more profits when a family has to equip children of different genders... how annoying if families simply re-use the same clothing for their DDs and Ds.. no money to be made in that is there?