The Gendering of the Young

[~baby~doll~]

In a society which is rife with gender stereotypes and biases, children regularly learn to adopt gender roles which are not always fair to both sexes. As children move through childhood and into adolescence, they are exposed to many factors which influence their attitudes and behaviors regarding gender roles. These attitudes and behaviors are generally learned first in the home and are then reinforced by the child's peers, school experience, and television viewing. However, the strongest influence on gender role development seems to occur within the family setting, with parents passing on, both overtly and covertly, to their children their own beliefs about gender. This overview of the impact of parental influence on gender role development leads to the suggestion that an androgynous gender role orientation may be more beneficial to children than strict adherence to traditional gender roles.

http://gozips.uakron.edu/~susan8/parinf.htm

We are assigned these roles before we get home and are expected by tradition to adapt and follow what has gone before us.
Melissa says in her song Gotta Go Now

Women can work
As long as dinner is done
And if you let little girls play with trucks
Their sexuality gets all screwed up
This is so the truth about being forced into expectations rather than allowing us to be who we are.

[Ginger]

Every time we reach for an article of clothing to get dressed in the morning we're making a decision based on countless considerations; some conscious, some unconscious. It isn't possible to dress in a neutral way.

As adults on this site supporting the butch/femme identity, our clothes might be seen to send signals as to our sexual preference.

I don't dress "like a femme" because I'm supporting the binary gendering of girls in childhood. But some might interpret it that way.

I also don't dress this way because I'm sending a message to butch women, though that's a perk I guess.

So why do I affect a stereotypically feminine appearance (if you don't look too closely)?

Can't even begin to answer that one right now. But good thread! I like the questions it brings up.

[Nat]

I saw this posted on facebook - no idea if it's a true story or not, but it's cute.

[puddin']

i was kicked out of ballet, not girl enough.
i was kicked out of girl scouts, not girl enough.
i neva wanted to be girl enough, so thank you vera much...

[Greyson]

I think each and everyone of us are impacted by the stereotyping of gender markers. Can children really make an informed decision on many things? Most likely some can and some cannot. (BTW, it depends on one's interpretation of "informed".)

Here is an article/link I ran across today. For better or for worse this camp for young genderqueer cis-boys, I think is a step forward. There is a space where they are free to express their gender without harsh retribution, judgement.

Here is another link on a blog that offers some comment, thought to as the why and how of it in gender expression of genderqueer children.

http://dish.andrewsullivan.com/2012/...on-better-hed/

__________________________________________________ _______

A Boys' Camp to Redefine Gender

By David Rosenberg | Posted Monday, July 15, 2013

Over the past three years, photographer Lindsay Morris has been documenting a four-day camp for gender nonconforming boys and their parents.

Although it is unknown if the kids at the camp will eventually identify as gay or transgender—or even if the way gender and sexuality are defined throughout society will evolve—the camp allows the kids to look at themselves in a completely different way.

Read More:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/behold/20...lugin_activity

[Nat]

Ran across this today on facebook and found it hopeful.