Gender Role Development And Gender-Neutral Child Rearing

Improved Essays
Child care can create gender roles in children because of the advice that parents get about taking care of a child. In the article “William wants a Doll. Can he have one? Feminists, Child Care Advisors, and Gender-Neutral Child Rearing” by Karin A. Martin, it talks about society implanted gender roles such as books and parenting websites. Martin describes that four sources, from books, give off gender differences. Martin gives an example that in a book by Ames and Haber, they wrote that “the basic, genetic differences between the sexes are so central and so strong that baby boys and girls impose their gender on their parents” (Ames, Haber 47). The book gives the ideas that there are differences between gender and that it is important for parents …show more content…
Hunter, they researched about how child care have an impact on gender roles. When the researchers were observing children at a childcare, each gender represented different themes. The first theme was “boys received more attention than Girls, even when there were fewer of them” a boy name Wayne would interrupt the girls even when the teacher is not paying attention to them (Chick, et al., 150). The researchers’ further talks about how boys mostly show the “tough talk” (Throne 1993; Chick et al., 151). This shows the differences of boys compared to girls. In addition, boys show the “more power and control when their numbers were equal to females” (Chick et al., 151). This shows the patriarchy that are implanted in boys. The boys will always have the power over the girls. In kids, it even shows the patriarchy. In addition, “girls were reinforced for their dress, hairstyles, and helping behaviors, while boys received more comments on their size and physical skills” (Chick et al., 151). The caregivers were giving a female tone towards girls. Complimenting dress and hairstyles shows that girls are looked upon on looks rather than their strength. Helping behaviors shows the typical mother type since mothers are looked upon on cleaning, nurturing, and helping around the house. In addition, caregivers were giving the male

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