Taking Back Girls #5
Hello Parent of Boys!
In an effort to combat this:
I invite you to consider the following:
Support clothing companies such as these:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/07/kids-clothing-lines-break-gender-stereotypes_n_6925592.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063
Make these books, books with girl protagonists rather than “Girls’ Books”
required reading for your future feminist boy:
1. Little House Series
Laura Ingalls is a remarkably gender balanced kid, and somehow the wildness of the setting, along with the incredible tolerance of her Pa (Ma not so much) produces an environment that can accept Laura as she is.
2. Pippi Longstocking
OK I cannot figure out why this is big and Laura Ingalls is small and I have a VERY SMALL WINDOW of time here so...
Pippi. I grew up idolizing this girl who bashes gender stereotypes with her great big cigar. But don't let her tough exterior fool you: Pippi has a rich emotional life and often sheds tears over those less fortunate than her. That girl is the real deal.
3. The Ramona Series
Ramona is another complete, well-rounded kid. She has meaningful, age appropriate relationships with kids of both genders and in one of the books is cared for by her stay-at-home dad.
4. Harriet the Spy
Big again. Anyway Harriet: Independent, vulnerable, picky eater. You have to love her.
5. Little Women
Again, for it’s time, this story was a bit gender bending as well; Jo is a fiercely independent girl, and although in the end she does (spoiler alert) succumb to marriage, she does keep that independent streak throughout this book and Jo’s Boys.
So Parents of Boys, I invite you to give your future men as many opportunities to see girls as main characters rather than supporting cast as early as you can. They will most certainly take it from there.
