Do People in General Preferred Girls over Boys?

[Anonymous]

Our 2+ year old son has been more wonderful than I could have ever imagined. When pregnant with #2 I thought it would be great to have another boy so they could each have a brother. With so many one and two children family, it seems as though families with two brothers or two sisters are becoming rarer (coming from someone who has a strong love for, and connection with both sisters). Anyway, our second is a baby girl who we absolutely adore. We wouldn't send her back. No way! The intense love you feel for your baby, boy or girl, is awesome. Each child is a unique little person, no matter the gender.

[Anonymous]

For those of you with school age kids, do you think elementary teachers favor the girls over the boys? I worry about that having heard it sometimes happens, esp since most elementary school teachers are women.

[Anonymous]

I have 2 boys and agree with posters that my feminist notions that nurture can trump nature has been debunked. The physical energy alone that toddler boys possess is insane! We have dolls and kitchen sets in our playroom but the 3.5yo will always choose building, playing bad guy, rescue hero or dinosaurs. I think temperment plays a part but boys seem to be the ones doing more hitting, pushing, grabbing, posturing, esp in the toddler years. On the playground at preschool their play is much more physical and aggressive while the girls appear calmer and more connected through their words. This is not to say our little boys arent sensitive, verbal, cooperative, etc, but with each passing year the gender differences appear more pronounced in my observation.

[Anonymous]

Girls are easier to keep cute, keep pretty, keep quiet! I feel for little boys. They are always getting eye-rolled and sneered at when they just need a bit more exercise...I have two girls, but I love the unique and fun energy of the boys. Girls CAN have a tendency to get prissy...but those boys, they just keep on keepin' on. I taught all boys forever and I truly learned how sensitive, lovely, and different they all are. But when they are toddlers, they are generally like puppies. Just need to be run...you know, evewn when they are teens...just need to be run!

[Anonymous]

I wanted boys before I got pregnant and love having sons.

[Anonymous]

I always wanted boys, and that's what I have and wouldn't have it any other way. Love the rough and tumble, love the way they adore me, and love watching them grow and develop. I agree that many teachers (mostly women, in my experience) find boys harder to teach, because they prefer a more active learning style. That's one reason why my sons LOVE their all-boys' school. They really understand boys and what makes them tick.

[Anonymous]

I find this thread fascinating. I just found out yesterday that my son's private school preschool teacher has a long reputation of preferring girls over boys and being very tough on boys and what many would call "typical boy behavior."

And I have definitely noticed that the vast majority of threads on this board involve boy behavior.

There are a couple of great books that I keep meaning to read on this subject. Maybe now is the time....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find this thread fascinating. I just found out yesterday that my son's private school preschool teacher has a long reputation of preferring girls over boys and being very tough on boys and what many would call "typical boy behavior."

And I have definitely noticed that the vast majority of threads on this board involve boy behavior.

There are a couple of great books that I keep meaning to read on this subject. Maybe now is the time....

Maybe this in a way is what helps them out later on in life. Men enjoy much more professional success and tend to be more agressive in the work place. I think this is when the programming begins and this might not be such a bad thing. They also tend to be much less emotional and upset when corrected in the work place (I know as a manager of men and women and when I give a woman a poor review-WATCH OUT). I don't think we do our girls many favors by treating them with kid gloves.

[Anonymous]

I am one of the PP that said I wanted a boy and got a boy and would like more sons. However, a later post discussing the mother-daughter relationship brought up a really good point. I love the relationship I have now, as an adult, with my mom. And you're right, it is a completely different relationship than my mom will have with my younger brother. It would be great to have that type of relationship in my later years. Is there any way to skip the teenage daughter drama years and go right to the adult years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.slate.com/id/2093899/

"Numbers vary, but it's pretty safe to say that somewhere between 70 percent and 90 percent of parents looking to adopt register some preference for a girl with an agency. It doesn't matter if they're adopting from China, where girls far outnumber boys; from Russia, where the numbers are about even; or from Cambodia, where there is typically a glut of orphan boys and a paucity of girls. Everywhere, demand tends to favor the feminine. "

So it is the case then that "girls far outnumber boys" among kids who need adoptive homes in China.

But in any case I don't get why parents would rather adopt a girl.

[Anonymous]

If we decide to have another child, I would LOVE to have another boy!

[Anonymous]

I have a 3 yr old boy and I love him to pieces! I didn't know the sex of my baby and I thought (and kind of hoped) I was having a girl. I am a single mom and was worried how I would be able to raise a boy by myself. But I wouldn't trade him for a girl. He is so much fun even though he is FULL of energy. I laughed when I read the PP who said they are like puppies in that they need their exercise b/c it is the truth! If he doesn't get outside everyday, watch out! I am thinking about sending him to an all boys school b/c I think that many female teachers (esp in public school where there is a lot of sitting and listening) favor girls. They seem better suited to what school has to offer (being quiet and doing your work). Can anyone recommend a good private all boys school? Do the teachers really understand boys and their need to move?

[Anonymous]

Very interesting thread. When I was pregnant, I wanted a boy. I thought I would be a better parent to a boy since I am not one for lots of emotion. I have a girl and could not be more delighted with her. Hubby feels the same way. Says the "why am I here" mystery of life was solved for him the day she was born. He is here to be her father. And he, I think, secretly wanted a boy because he did not have any experience with girl children.

As far as elementary school teachers go, our teacher this year is the mother of all boys. She adores boys and understands them. So I think a teacher's life experience must be factored in before you decide whether or not a classroom will be girlcentric or not.

[Anonymous]

For the poster who was looking for boys' school recommendations, Landon's motto is "we know boys" and they really do. Lots of male teachers, lots of physical activity and hands-on learning. St. Albans is similar. Don't know too much about the Catholic boys' schools, although I know St. Anselm's has a very strong academic reputation.