Reply to How to answer sons who are asking me why so many girls have 'girls are better' merch

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP, I think your example about presidents is great; maybe add the 80 cents on the dollar salary figure. I'd tell your boys that these shirts are fighting against negative messaging that girls constantly get. They are not saying boys are bad, they are emphasizing that girls are strong and worthwhile which unfortunately not everybody believes yet. And because our society tends to elevate boys over girls, an equivalent shirt saying "boy power" would be inappropriate.[/quote]

Op - ok yes this is helpful! 
I guess on some level I’ve been reluctant to say ‘society elevates boys over girls’ bc I don’t even want to put the idea in their head. But obv I guess I have to acknowledge out loud at some point. [/quote]

My DS would absolutely reject the assertion that “society elevated girls.” He would need more specific facts. Because that’s not what boys see/experience these days. [/quote]

Nobody in a majority group thinks they are benefiting from it. That's why it's a parent's job to talk about this, with specific facts.

And talk about how these stereotypes hurt boys too. Eg, would they get teased if they wore a girl power shirt? Why? If they wore pink? Cried? Is that right or fair? Is it OK for boys to hit each other but not girls: if so, why is it OK to hit anybody / why should boys tolerate getting hit? [/quote]

We are grown ups so we all y sweat and that but it’s not as easy as you think to convey that to a 6 year old when the shirts say “girls rule, boys drool” rather than “girl power.” I completely understand the shirts, am a feminist, and can still understand op’s question! It’s a big job to address these issues with little kids (but I will say it gets much easier as they get to be teens.) [/quote]

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