To be honest, I do feel like men are from Mars at times. Yet, I have to admit I am stuck between whether I should agree with Kimmel or Gray. So why have 18 million copies of Gray’s book been sold? Instead of making the effort to understand a significant other, I find myself blaming them on being a “stupid boy”.
Yet, if you walk into a toy store, look at the packaging the toys come in. The Barbies, jewelry, fake cooking sets, Baby dolls, and pretend vacuums all have little girls on the packaging. Products such as swords, cars and action figures have young boys featured on its packaging. Is this because boys and girls were previously attracted to their segregated items or because they are taught through this distribution that these are the correct products for them? I struggle with the nature versus nurture argument in every form.
I very much enjoyed the discussion distributed by Mark Kimmel. He brought up issues, that as a female, I struggle with myself. For example, he says that recently women have not found the need to choose between their family and their job. I want both. Yet, although I want both I am not sure how I am going to be able to balance both. Even though I feel that I should be able to have both in this “equal” environment, for some reason I still feel as though it is me, as a mother’s, responsibility to make sure the children and the household is taken care of, not the father’s. Like Kimmel said, “college men subscribe to the same ideology of masculinity that they did years ago.”
I didn't even think to bring the toy aspect into my blog. I had some trouble get a good idea to talk about in my blog and that is the perfect one! I just picture myself in a toy store and all the "feminine" toys are house work and childcare and it's truly ridiculous! I agree with what you said about blaming it on the other sex. Sometimes it's just easy to go "oh she's just a girl" or "he's just a stupid boy" but I think that's part of the fight we have to fight in our generation to stop the blaming of the sexes that help reinforce the inequality.
ReplyDeleteI really liked reading your post. I found your views on balancing motherhood and a career to be interesting. I find this issue to be similar to the Kimmel quote you used, "college men subscribe to the same ideology of masculinity that they did years ago.” Do you mean that your thinking and feelings towards the subject is along the same lines of possibly your mother, grandmother, etc? As a male, even though when I have kids I will want to be there as much as possible, I still feel like I should be the one bringing money home. I think equality is progressing but men and women have to be willing to help each other fit into roles that aren't traditionally their roles.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog. In reference to your comment on how you want to have both a family and a career. I feel the same way and like you I am unsure on how that will actually play out. I hate to think that one day I will have to give less than 100% to my children or visa versa for my career that I've worked so hard for.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post. You brought up many intersting points that I didn't think of but agree with. The toy aspect is something that so obviously shows how our country displays gender differnces they believe to exist. I've been in toy stores hundreds of times and have played with my fair share of barbies as a child. Not once, did I question what the toys I played with actually meant or represented. Until Kimmel's lecture I never would have had this view point or realized that even as children we seem to have set molds of what males and females like and how we are supposed to be.
ReplyDeleteCatchy title too!
Interestingly I have 2 girls and 1 boy...a house full of traditionally girlie toys when my twins arrived. But still, through all the kitchen toys, barbies, babies and the like my son can't help but to stop and call attention to a passing train, a truck rumbling down the street or a plane in the air. No one told him that is what boys like...he just likes them and has no interest in all the rest. Likewise his twin sister could care less about his shiny new train set that Santa brought. So with this experience I'm cautious to say that society dictates and markets to our children...something in the biology helps too
ReplyDeleteI liked how you brought up the whole aspect of gender and toys. It is so true, children are almost trained to be a boy or a girl from the moment they are born and put into a blue or pink blanket. It's like the two sexes are being seen as complete opposites when we should all be seen as human.
ReplyDeleteYou also talked about how Kimmel pointed out that women are struggling to chose between their jobs and families today, I think that is unfortunate. How come fathers don't struggle with the same notion? Women should be given more credit in the working world.
I believe that children are trained through generations what toys and colors and things they should like. However this is something that have evolved since the 1940's when barbie dolls and toys were created. I know the differences of men and women however I believe this is the natural wants and needs of girls and boys. If my daughter wants to play with g-i joes or cars she will be allowed to, however I due to the natural order of men and women chances of this are unlikely.
ReplyDelete@ Dawn Marie
ReplyDeleteI am very glad someone with children is able to state their opinion, and this is a very interesting point. I wonder what makes a child genetically more attracted to a certain type of toy? Is it true that females naturally think more with the right side of their brain (creativity, emotions), while males with their left (problem solving, logical)? Does this perhaps have something to do with the issue being directed more towards nature instead of nuture?
@WS 405 Blog
ReplyDeleteI do think women should be more credit in the working world, and it is sad that men aren't given the same respondsibility. That being said, where could this of all derived? Men can reproduce forever, and do not have to physically bear any of the consequences of a pregnancy. This perhaps, in history, makes it easier to put respondsibility on the mother.
I can relate when you say you want both a career and a family.. but how do you do it? And even in a supposed equal environment, is it really possible to work full time and love your job while letting the mother's guilt subside? I feel that I'd like to put 100% into whatever I do, and for me daycare isn't an option until at least age 2. I agree that it seems as though it is a mother's job to figure that out... but what if the mother is the primary breadwinner? Then what happens? I would find it interesting if it was then the father's issue to worry about.
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ReplyDeleteHas anyone in this class actually had children? I think it would be interesting to hear the opinions of parents as well.
ReplyDelete@ poip
ReplyDeleteyes, read up. It is interesting from a mother's perspective.