August 25th, 2008 at 1:46 am
Binary Land
I have a lot of problems imagining myself as a mother when I’m an adult. While I was certainly a little girl who played with Barbies and enjoyed the color pink, I would probably try exceedingly hard to save my children from societal gender binaries.
The fact that it’s acceptable to publish an article about child development without stating specific studies or which “psychologists at the University of Cambridge in England” believe that boys like to watch mechanical motion demonstrates that a gross majority of people assume that socialized gender roles should be biological… including a female obsession with fashion and shoes. I will admit that of course there are differences between males and females (besides the obvious plumbing) that can be observed from birth, but this frightens me.
Is it really possible to raise a child without gendering it? Can you inculcate your child with the belief that his or her abilities are not limited to those deemed appropriate for their sex? The biggest question is: would society allow it?
Related links: The incriminating CNN article, Binary Land (NES game referenced), Feministing