Daddy’s Little Girl (Or Is It Boy Today?)
The focal point of this past unit has been the denial of sex and sexual themes around children. We discussed reasons why adults may attempt to shield children from all things sex. What we discovered, however, is that adults not only shield children from sexual themes simply because of their age and their perceived innocence, but they also attempt to control and rid their child of any gender “queerness” that does not fit into heteronormative and reproductive-oriented society, or their own views and ideals on “proper” boy-girl behaviour. “Curiouser: On the Queerness of Children” by Steven Bruhm and Natasha Hurley, analyzes and explains this paradox, yet I would like to have a more in-depth examination …show more content…
Many of the old ideals have been revised, but there are still many that are deeply embedded in the general mindset of the public. One of the most basic and obvious is how we treat and act around our children when it comes to gender roles, especially those children that are thought of as “queer,” aka “[those that do] not conform to the wished-for way that children are supposed to be in terms of gender and sexual roles” (Bruhm and Hurley). Bruhm and Hurley explain that, to adults, it is alright if a child is seen as queer, “as long as the queerness can be rationalized as a series of mistakes, [play], or misplaced desires.” Parents get extremely worried and upset if their children do not grow out of their “phase,” and many will do whatever they can to correct the child’s behaviour (especially if it is a boy participating in traditional “girly” behaviour). Even though gender nonconformity in children is more accepted now, and parents are much more likely to allow their children to explore and find themselves, that acceptance has yet to fully extend. Parents are still more likely than not to attempt to steer their children in the “right” direction when it comes to gender …show more content…
Padawer explains that, for the most part, adults simply can’t relate to their children, and can’t understand where they’re coming from. Modern adults have been raised to follow the strict established gender roles, and therefore have very little to go off of when it comes to raising a gender nonconforming child. Padawer discusses the situation between a father, Anthony, and his son Jose. While Jose was a toddler, Anthony explained that he accepted his son’s gender fluidity, but “as Jose got older, and it it became clear his interests weren’t just a passing phase, Anthony recoiled. He struggled with confusion, disappointment and alienation from his own child, who called himself a ‘girl-boy.’” Anthony explained that he “just didn’t know how to relate to him”
The focal point of this past unit has been the denial of sex and sexual themes around children. We discussed reasons why adults may attempt to shield children from all things sex. What we discovered, however, is that adults not only shield children from sexual themes simply because of their age and their perceived innocence, but they also attempt to control and rid their child of any gender “queerness” that does not fit into heteronormative and reproductive-oriented society, or their own views and ideals on “proper” boy-girl behaviour. “Curiouser: On the Queerness of Children” by Steven Bruhm and Natasha Hurley, analyzes and explains this paradox, yet I would like to have a more in-depth examination …show more content…
Many of the old ideals have been revised, but there are still many that are deeply embedded in the general mindset of the public. One of the most basic and obvious is how we treat and act around our children when it comes to gender roles, especially those children that are thought of as “queer,” aka “[those that do] not conform to the wished-for way that children are supposed to be in terms of gender and sexual roles” (Bruhm and Hurley). Bruhm and Hurley explain that, to adults, it is alright if a child is seen as queer, “as long as the queerness can be rationalized as a series of mistakes, [play], or misplaced desires.” Parents get extremely worried and upset if their children do not grow out of their “phase,” and many will do whatever they can to correct the child’s behaviour (especially if it is a boy participating in traditional “girly” behaviour). Even though gender nonconformity in children is more accepted now, and parents are much more likely to allow their children to explore and find themselves, that acceptance has yet to fully extend. Parents are still more likely than not to attempt to steer their children in the “right” direction when it comes to gender …show more content…
Padawer explains that, for the most part, adults simply can’t relate to their children, and can’t understand where they’re coming from. Modern adults have been raised to follow the strict established gender roles, and therefore have very little to go off of when it comes to raising a gender nonconforming child. Padawer discusses the situation between a father, Anthony, and his son Jose. While Jose was a toddler, Anthony explained that he accepted his son’s gender fluidity, but “as Jose got older, and it it became clear his interests weren’t just a passing phase, Anthony recoiled. He struggled with confusion, disappointment and alienation from his own child, who called himself a ‘girl-boy.’” Anthony explained that he “just didn’t know how to relate to him”