What I have noticed is that we do teach gender. Pinks are for girls and Blues are for boys. Dolls are for girls and trucks are for boys. Actually, I don't see anything wrong with that either. I think that our children are the best teachers and when they want to differentiate from the mold, they will do so. I think that we can overthink things and try to protect children from things that they may or may not need protecting from.
In history, human kind has suffered because of POWER. In the early days of our country, settlers that came to our country practiced taking POWER from others; this was done by horrendous means. Children that grow up practicing such practices have learned this from their families and communities. I think that the taking down of the confederate flag in South Carolina, the millions around the world that are joining hands around the #Blacklivesmatter movement, and even #sayhername movement, proves that human kind can pick out and preserve the better elements for the survival of human kind. We are not that sick as human kind, or so I believe, that we can't let girls where pink without being hard on ourselves for not offering them a gender-neutral color.
I think that we are here to protect the innocence of our children. They will work out there sexuality in a healthy matter if we support them. We are here to not only teach them but support them in decisions that they make. We support and champion all races, cultures, and sexual choices that they make. Technology changes our world to a whole different world within five years, there are jobs that this generation is training for that have not been created yet, and cultures that have yet to be seen. If we support and champion, our young ones will be fine.
Yes I do think children need to be protected. I think there are some children who grow up in some homes where they see or hear too much or the parents do not try and protect their children. I think those children grow up too fast and skip some cognitive developmental steps in their lives. Kids need to be kids. I think that can be as simple as helping them to learn and grow and making sure kids have fun while learning and growing.
ReplyDeleteDoretta,
ReplyDeleteI like your post and agree that we need to support them as being children and yes, we are all sexual beings. However, I do disagree with you that children are being sexualized. Do you not see children and pre teens out and how they dress? How shorts were shorts when you were young? Just a few years ago (when I was in school), shorts and skirts and could be no more than two inches above the knee - no shorter or we would get sent home to change. I went to public school. Now, girls wear shorts that their butt cheeks hang out and dresses/skirts that are just as short. Is this necessary? I don't think so! As much as parents try to protect their children, it can be difficult with what is available to them as outside influences like media and clothing stores. Maybe it is simply just too much exposure too soon - the world has changed so much in the last 10-15 years. Do you think our parents felt the same way as I feel now with two young children?
Thanks,
Danielle
Doretta,
ReplyDeleteI agree with Freud as well. My problem is that children can't seem to get away from sex these days. It is in our music, our tv, commercials. It just seems to be every where. Yes we need to protect them and we need to provide a safe place for them to ask questions.
Lauren Sumner