To provide a quick summary, the book begins with Orenstein being pregnant and secretly wishing for a boy so that she does not need to test her knowledge about raising a girl. She feared failing …show more content…
However, Peggy claims that advertisement has changed that outlook to create perfect girly toys in the market. Ultimately, the pink color is good for business; therefore, it influences the culture of females at a young age. The myth that fictional characters are not perfect, which encourages diversity in children is deconstructed by the author as she explains that the market creates perfect toys and uses colors to separate boys and girls. Additionally, another myth mentioned is that sex is dependent on the biology of males and females. The author tells the tale of Jeremy, who liked wearing barrettes. Everyone at school called him a girl; this upset Jeremy so he pulled his pants down and explained that he is clearly a boy. However, his classmate did not seem to think that was enough evidence for him to claim being a man. Peggy goes further to question if the biological equipment does not suffice to differ male from female, then what does? (2011). She believes that the children see male/female differences in clothing, hairstyle, and toy and color preference. Lise Eliot, a neuroscientist, claims that the concept of sex differences and gender identity is hard for children to understand due to the later development of the frontal cortex; Eliot relates this …show more content…
I would strongly recommend it for everyone. Parents can benefit in terms of raising their daughter. Siblings can learn how to better interact with their sisters, friends, or family members. Additionally, any student going into the world to practice, research, or work could profit from the book. Furthermore, I recommend that student do further research on some of the topics mentioned in the book. It would be a great experiment to see how the effects of princesses, toys, colors, media, internet, and Disney TV shows guide the lives of girls and families. I liked the approach that Peggy Orenstein took in order to provide her daughter with an unbiased and ungendered environment even if other aspects leaked at home. At the end of the day, families are the main influential figures in a child’s life; however, the environment surrounding the child could definitely play a role and change plenty of things. Furthermore, the decisions that parents make for their children affect how they direct their lives as adults. Therefore, there is strength in being aware as a parent. The number one important thing I enjoyed in this book is the author’s emphasis on teaching females to perceive themselves from the inside before the outside, which will ultimately lead to their true