Sense and sensitivity

JWR ^ | 3-23-05 | Jonah Goldberg

[FlyLow]

A few years ago, one of my sisters-in-law came to town with two of her kids, a boy and a girl. Over ice cream the adults in the group asked these great kids what they'd do if they found a treasure chest full of gold. My nephew pondered. Then he said, "A gun." Then, more pondering. "No, wait. A sword would be good, too. Maybe I'd get a gun and sword."

We then asked my niece the same question. She immediately replied, "A cheerleader uniform and a grown-up makeup kit." She didn't need to revisit the question. She was positive.

Now, a certain kind of feminist might say that such sentiments reflected the deep-seated cultural biases that force little kids to assume "gender roles." True, society helps shape the people we become. But knowing the environment these kids come from, it simply strains believability that nature wasn't a bigger culprit than nurture. Science backs all of this up, of course. Studies show that if you give a little boy a Barbie doll, he's more likely to pretend it's a shapely gun or knife.

[Ragtop]

I agree. When my 5 year old niece was younger she really liked Batman and Robin, I thought this was cool and got her a lot of Batman stuff, however, she really liked Robin because from the cartoon she thought he was handsome. And then she would pretned that Robin was her boyfriend. When we played Clue, she had to be Miss Scarlet because she was beautiful These were things she chose, at no time did anyone tell her these things. It's a natural selection. Her 1 year old brother likes cars and trucks. No one has forced this on him, these are the toys he chooses to play with.

[cricket]

The only people who think 'gender proclivities' are induced; are those people who have never observed children/babies, of both sexes up close and personal. . .or who have never had children or observed them honestly. . .at all.<

If you have gone there/been there. . .you know that Nature first. . .rules.

[SMARTY]

When my nephew was small, almost so small the he couldn't talk, I had him with me in the car. We drove on the highway past some construction and of course the side view was mud, mud, mud and lots of big tractors, trucks, service gear and finally the biggest dozer I ever saw. When he spotted it, he about climbed out of his skin screaming ... "WOW! Look at that ... WOW!!!" Nothing behavioral to it, believe me... it's a guy thing.

[FYREDEUS]

Vive les differences!

[Clock King]

I feel sorry for kids of neurotic lefties who try to raise them "gender-neutral" or some such nonsense. Anyone with common sense knows that you let children find their own way.

[cricket]

. . .in gender agreement ;^)