Why do we still care if boys play with dolls?
- By Loretta Boronat
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- 06 Oct, 2015
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Kids constantly face a kind of pressure to fall in with established gender norms which are both strong and pervasive in our society. And nowhere is this more evident than with their toys and clothing. Each parent’s take on the matter is different from one person to the next. A lot continue to say they believe that it is the natural order of things and it’s just how it’s supposed to be, while many others attempt to intervene and limit their kids’ exposure to the blue-pink/trucks vs dolls dichotomy among children’s toys and clothes. They would allow their children nothing but gender-neutral toys, clothing, and entertainment. Recently, vocally challenging these norms has gained some popularity and we often see parents proclaiming progressive bona-fides on social media. There have been stories about parents celebrating instead of shaming their children for choosing to be themselves, and encourage these children to just explore where their interests lie. But the real challenge lies in making these things the rule and not just the occasional exception. To read the full article, click here…

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