Katha Pollitt’s “Why Boys Don’t Play with Dolls” correctly argues that there is no possible way to avoid gender norms when raising children due to adult’s assumption and implementation of gender norms from a young age and society as a whole. Pollitt confronts the idea that even though parents are raising and shaping their children to be unique individuals they truly have no choice regarding gender norms because they are presented everywhere and simply cannot be avoided. “I Want a Wife” written by Judy Brady confronts a different yet ever present gender stereotypes forced onto women within a marriage by society. This particular essay approaches the topic of patriarchy and shines a whole new light onto it. Brady essentially argues that the things
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Both Pollitt’s and Brady’s essays on gender strongly focus their blame on society, in regards to gender stereotypes, however they blame different areas of society.
Pollitt states that gender norms cannot be avoided because they are represented everywhere in modern society. She believes that, “We don’t have a choice, really, about whether we should give our children messages about what it means to be male and female – they’re bombarded with them from morning till night” (Pollitt 234-235). Pollitt correctly argues this point because gender stereotypes are indirectly and slyly pushed upon children from the moment parents find out if the child is a boy or a girl while still in the mother’s womb. Parents, relatives, and friends immediately put a label to the child based on their biological sex. For example, once the gender of the child is known someone is bound to buy a onesie that says “mommy’s little man” or “daddy’s little princess”, immediately pushing a stereotype on the child before they’re even born. From then on the child will constantly see gender norms whether they are on television, in magazines, at the stores, in advertisements, or in school, the stereotypes are ever present leaving parents no
Both Pollitt’s and Brady’s essays on gender strongly focus their blame on society, in regards to gender stereotypes, however they blame different areas of society.
Pollitt states that gender norms cannot be avoided because they are represented everywhere in modern society. She believes that, “We don’t have a choice, really, about whether we should give our children messages about what it means to be male and female – they’re bombarded with them from morning till night” (Pollitt 234-235). Pollitt correctly argues this point because gender stereotypes are indirectly and slyly pushed upon children from the moment parents find out if the child is a boy or a girl while still in the mother’s womb. Parents, relatives, and friends immediately put a label to the child based on their biological sex. For example, once the gender of the child is known someone is bound to buy a onesie that says “mommy’s little man” or “daddy’s little princess”, immediately pushing a stereotype on the child before they’re even born. From then on the child will constantly see gender norms whether they are on television, in magazines, at the stores, in advertisements, or in school, the stereotypes are ever present leaving parents no