"I don't like boys' things, mummy": gender stereotyping sweeps the Inferiority Complex

[motherinferior]

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHno. The pink socks (see rants passim) are bad enough. I have yielded on vile plastic dolls. I am prepared to yield on Bratz. The general tidal wave of girliness that suffuses the Inferiority Complex has some quite enjoyable (if pink and sparkly) aspects. But when my not quite three year old gestures to the "boys' toys" ands says she "doesn't like those" I start to get worried. I see her refusing to study physics, and just looking for a Big Strong Man to take care of her and not worry her pretty little head about things and oh dear oh dear oh dear did Emily Wilding Davison die in vain, eh?

Eh???

Reassure me, this too shall pass...or will it?

I like the wine options.

Ooh, and I'd love to see the look of horror on the other mum's faces if you tell her that climbing frames are for boys!!!

boys toys are shit though

So, er,either it will pass or it won't, that's the verdict. I don't know if it makes it worse or better that she and her sister actually look very fetching in pink frillitude.

I did start explaining to DD1 about how work is labour sold for money at an arbitrarily set rate, so perhaps I should take up the struggle - sorry, the Struggle - in other areas

I suspect I have all this to come from the other side... ds already wants to play fighting and rushes about pretending to hit things. God knows where he's getting it from, certainly not me!

Nahhh, boys toys rock!

re enid's post of 1.26, MI have you forgotten your Inferiorettes are betrothed to my Fragrant Boys? We can control their destinies together, MWAHHH MWAHHH MMMWWWAUUUUUUUUH!

Don't worry. At about 6 or 7 the anti-pink backlash kicks in, and they start performing unspeakable tortures on innocent Barbie dolls. By about 8 or 9 dd1 was refusing to wear any skirts or dresses at all, later refined to only wearing combatty-skatery-type trousers that looked as if they had just been pulled from a skip. This too shall pass.

I think more play opportunities between the Inferiorettes and BoyBlu are in order! DD1 and BoyBlu can discuss capitalism (DS wants to join the anti-capitalist pink-lycra-suited robbers who make raids on luxury food shops and give it to poor poeple in Hamburg)), and DD2 can observe that boys play with BabyBorn (crap girls toy, but not as bad as Bratz!) and that people who play with BabyBorn can also wield a light sabre with murderous intention.

uh oh - dynastic clash between Wong and Blu for the Heiresses to the Inferiority Complex! It's like King Lear!

I know Twiglett

... but you know what ... Barbie was THE LEAST SLUTTY DOLL ON THE SHELF! How scary is that?!

cods boys and my girls would kick the Inferior-Wongs arses

I certainly hope it will pass. DD is just the same ... pink everywhere. Resists wearing trousers, loves make up, doing her hair etc etc. (She's 5!!) She told me the other day that being an engineer was boy's job. Don't know where she got this. Not home and not the classroom ... probably the playground. Anyway, cue me doing lots girl power talk in last few weeks and reminding dd of all the wonderful jobs available to her. Anyway, think she now realises she could be engineer, doctor etc if she wants. Of course she still wants to be a princess when she grows up ...

That maybe so, Enid, but the Wong-Inferior cross breeds would smite you down with their radiant beauty and avenge us

You'll long for these days when they're both Goths, MI

first person to buy DD a Barbie gets shot ... over-reaction? I think not

Oh come on mi they're not as confused as my lot, who worry earnestly about whether they're going to be able to combine fatherhood and having a career - such are the perils of being raised by a SAHD!

Actually I don't think we should worry about their careers, I just think there'll be an awful lot of pink-clad, tiara-wearing doctors and engineers in the next generation.

Yes, my DS2 loves pink!

either it will pass or it won't but there's only so much you can do. children are supposed to try us and reject our dearest ideals aren't they?

Twiglett - is that a challenge?

DD1 received, for her 6th Birthday:

4 x Bratz
3 x Baby Bratz
1 x Lil' Bratz (difference I know not....)
2 x Barbie things
3 x My Little Pony fgures

MI you really have got nothing to worry about

(Oh and 3 book tokens from the parents I was able to nobble first .)

Oh I forgot the bl**dy Polly Pocket shite too!

I read this surrounded by a fiendishly complicated Brio concoction, exhausted after weeks and weeks of seemingly constant Thomas stories, and we are watching a video I was persuaded to borrow from the library called "Real Life Hot Digger Action" or somesuch. DS just pointed out the pouring of concrete, I kid you not. It's bloody genetic, it has to be.

The only other explanation is that somone somewhere, perhaps in his sleep, is quietly indoctrinating him...Maybe via a small transmitter placed in his ear during the "Neonatal Hearing Check" (sponsored by First Great Western, thought that was odd at the time).
They'll work it out in the end, MI. Betcha they do.

When I was four I insisted on having my hair cut REALLY short, refused to answer to my real name and had to be called "Jimmy", and was utterly delighted if anyone mistook me for a boy. I refused to play with girls and would only play (or at least tag along) with the boys. My bestest thing for years and years was my chemistry set. Yet somewhere it has manifestly all gone wrong and, mysteriously, I am not a Master (or even a Mistress) of the Universe.

Perhaps you could take some paradoxical comfort from that?

Dd1 wants to be a mummy when she grows up. Subtly tried suggesting that she could be a mummy AND a brain surgeon / rocket scientist / QC; but no. Methinks the cause has been set back 30 years in this house.(She also wants to be rich and live in a mansion. Raising high maintenence girls? Moi?)