He is all boy

[Anonymous]

So we, not sew

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I say this about my older son because he is such a stereotypical a little boy. Love trucks, construction sites, and dirt.

I don't think it is sexist as all. (Coming from an educated, former "tomboy" mom.)

It's bigoted. If your son didn't like trucks, would that make him less of a boy?

It is so sexist, it drives me crazy. BAnd it is annoying. But there are people who will never get it.

Bigoted? Sexist? C'mon people, lighten up. Thought police coming to a neighborhood near you.

[Anonymous]

My son is in a school that bans media (waldorf). Now, the parents don't live up to it 100%, but these kids watch A LOT less than other kids. They do live in our culture and so aren't completely exempt from gender norms, but it is amazing what you see on the playground - all the kids playing together in very similar ways. Biological differences do not manifest themselves in the ways we think they do (trucks on the one hand and tutus on the other is a great example of our nonsensical gender norming). Much of this stuff is learned though media.

That said. I still think you should just smile and say, "sometimes."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is in a school that bans media (waldorf). Now, the parents don't live up to it 100%, but these kids watch A LOT less than other kids. They do live in our culture and so aren't completely exempt from gender norms, but it is amazing what you see on the playground - all the kids playing together in very similar ways. Biological differences do not manifest themselves in the ways we think they do (trucks on the one hand and tutus on the other is a great example of our nonsensical gender norming). Much of this stuff is learned though media.

That said. I still think you should just smile and say, "sometimes."

There is a group of girls playing tackle football?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is in a school that bans media (waldorf). Now, the parents don't live up to it 100%, but these kids watch A LOT less than other kids. They do live in our culture and so aren't completely exempt from gender norms, but it is amazing what you see on the playground - all the kids playing together in very similar ways. Biological differences do not manifest themselves in the ways we think they do (trucks on the one hand and tutus on the other is a great example of our nonsensical gender norming). Much of this stuff is learned though media.

That said. I still think you should just smile and say, "sometimes."

Is the end goal to have us all male and female dress alike and have similar social expectations and duties a la 1984? Will everyone feel better then?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why, though, are the "all boy" characteristics so negative? Your kid gets called "all boy" when he is behaving like a wild hellion. I know, because sometimes my boy behaved like a wild hellion and was called "all boy." But when he was kind and considerate and brave no one called him all boy. Its crap. For the PP who wondered what to say when a boy is on a rampage and you want to sympathize with the mom...what would you say if it was a girl on a rampage? They do it, too? I'd probably smile and shake my head and say "Kids! They do grow up, though. Would you like some chocolate?"

I don't agree with your take on the phrase. Boys being rough and tumble and being into sports and trucks is not viewed in a negative light at all. I think the phrase is usually said with mock negativity but actual pride.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is in a school that bans media (waldorf). Now, the parents don't live up to it 100%, but these kids watch A LOT less than other kids. They do live in our culture and so aren't completely exempt from gender norms, but it is amazing what you see on the playground - all the kids playing together in very similar ways. Biological differences do not manifest themselves in the ways we think they do (trucks on the one hand and tutus on the other is a great example of our nonsensical gender norming). Much of this stuff is learned though media.

That said. I still think you should just smile and say, "sometimes."

Is the end goal to have us all male and female dress alike and have similar social expectations and duties a la 1984? Will everyone feel better then?

Yes.. We force boys to act like girls so we can say there is no gender difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why, though, are the "all boy" characteristics so negative? Your kid gets called "all boy" when he is behaving like a wild hellion. I know, because sometimes my boy behaved like a wild hellion and was called "all boy." But when he was kind and considerate and brave no one called him all boy. Its crap. For the PP who wondered what to say when a boy is on a rampage and you want to sympathize with the mom...what would you say if it was a girl on a rampage? They do it, too? I'd probably smile and shake my head and say "Kids! They do grow up, though. Would you like some chocolate?"

I don't agree with your take on the phrase. Boys being rough and tumble and being into sports and trucks is not viewed in a negative light at all. I think the phrase is usually said with mock negativity but actual pride.

I agree. I actually think little boys that act like this and have these interests are viewed in a more positive light by society than those who aren't/don't. It IS possible to be well-mannered, high-energy and into traditionally "boy" stuff.

[Anonymous]

It bothers me, too, OP, but mostly because my boy does not fit any of the typical boy stereotypes and that, by no means, makes him less of a boy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is in a school that bans media (waldorf). Now, the parents don't live up to it 100%, but these kids watch A LOT less than other kids. They do live in our culture and so aren't completely exempt from gender norms, but it is amazing what you see on the playground - all the kids playing together in very similar ways. Biological differences do not manifest themselves in the ways we think they do (trucks on the one hand and tutus on the other is a great example of our nonsensical gender norming). Much of this stuff is learned though media.

That said. I still think you should just smile and say, "sometimes."

Is the end goal to have us all male and female dress alike and have similar social expectations and duties a la 1984? Will everyone feel better then?

Have you read 1984?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Bigoted? Sexist? C'mon people, lighten up. Thought police coming to a neighborhood near you.

Huh. Because the gender police are already there.

[Anonymous]

All we need now is that annoying sex/gender (it's SEX, not gender!!) poster to come out of the woodwork and then the stupidity of this thread will be complete.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The fact that you find those "boy traits" unflattering is why school is so hard on boys. Boys really need to do things like run around a lot more than girls do. They naturally swing sticks around too. There is nothing wrong with it. If you look at any playground you can see this. Sure there are girls who will also be running around, but for the most part, boys need WAY more exercise than girls do. They NEED it. If they are forced to sit still, then their inability to do that may be seen as "wild hellion" behavior but that is grossly unfair to them and just shows how little you understand boys. If you forced your DD to run around the same amount to make things even, instead of forcing boys to tone it down, it would be cruel.

PP, do you think it's all nature (or God's design)? None of it has to do with society's expectations and the way we raise children? Because that's not what the science says.

Males and females genetically different. That's a fact. We have different hormones/hormone levels. That's also a fact. How in the world could this NOT have any effect on how we behave? Of course it does.

Um, the big difference in hormones and hormone levels happens in puberty, not at a year old or 2 years old or even 3 or 4 or 5 a

And even then, it doesn't have to have a huge impact on behavior outside of sexual impulses. I mean, in the workplace, if a man hits another person, it's not like, "Oh, he's all boy!" And it is in puberty, adolescence and adulthood when the hormonal differences are most pronounced. But that doesn't justify or excuse aggressive behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is in a school that bans media (waldorf). Now, the parents don't live up to it 100%, but these kids watch A LOT less than other kids. They do live in our culture and so aren't completely exempt from gender norms, but it is amazing what you see on the playground - all the kids playing together in very similar ways. Biological differences do not manifest themselves in the ways we think they do (trucks on the one hand and tutus on the other is a great example of our nonsensical gender norming). Much of this stuff is learned though media.

That said. I still think you should just smile and say, "sometimes."

There is a group of girls playing tackle football?

Are the boys playing tackle football during recess at your child's school? They sure aren't at mine (MCPS). But not because of gender norms. Because tackling is one of the long list of things the children are not allowed to do during recess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All we need now is that annoying sex/gender (it's SEX, not gender!!) poster to come out of the woodwork and then the stupidity of this thread will be complete.

No, actually, it is gender. We're talking about behavior, not what's in a person's pants.