As a proud feminist, I believe in the idea that parents should raise their children the same way, regardless of gender. I find it so ridiculous how differently children are treated for being a "boy" or "girl". It's seen in young children everyday: boys only playing with trains and building blocks (because that's what all boys like), while the girls play with easy-bake ovens and dress-up dolls (because that's what all girls like). I don't understand why some parents are so against letting their daughters play with racecars or allowing their sons to wear a princess costume. When parents treat their children in gender-typical ways, it affects the way they are in the future. Even something as simple as the words we choose when talking to a boy versus a girl can set forth the way she thinks, learns, interacts with others, and views herself for the rest of her life.
In a Vogue article by Patricia Garcia, she mentions that most people when talking to little girls tend to say things like "What a pretty dress you have on" or "You're so cute". By saying things like this, we are teaching girls that the most important thing about them is their looks. In the future, this way of thinking could lead to low self-esteem, early plastic surgery, or an eating disorder. When we only focus on one characteristic of a child, it limits their abilities because they are not getting as much encouragement for anything else. By falling into this stereotypical way of thinking, we see a little girls and automatically want to comment on her appearance and tell her how beautiful she is, without ever making her feel intelligent or empowered.
These stereotypes also cause us to assume that boys are better at math and science. Since we assume that they will be more successful in these subject and all-around enjoy them more, we talk about it with boys more than girls. Parents use more numerical phrases like "How many dogs do you see over there?" or "How many toes do you have?". Parents are twice more likely to talk about math and science with their sons rather than daughters. Parents engage their sons, ask them questions, and challenge them in these subjects much more than they do with their daughters. Boys have shown to be more fluent, confident, and better at retrieving concepts from memory in their math classes than girls. Because they are getting more attention and encouragement, it leaves girls feeling much less competent in these subjects.
When parents engage their children in science activities, is helps children engage in reasoning, find an interest in learning, and develop scientific literacy, important for all educated children. Fewer conversations about numbers with girls can decrease their understanding of mathematical quantities, especially in everyday life. Boys are three times more likely to hear an explanation from their parents: by hearing explanation, the children have an easier time understand their world and making assessments on their own. When explaining to their children, mothers are 15% more likely to explain to their boys, and fathers are 30% more likely to explain to their boys. Where does this leave their daughters?
By assuming children's likes, dislikes, and abilities based off their gender, we are hindering their success for the future; we limit their knowledge and learning abilities and decrease their confidence. Gender-stereotyping children keeps them from ever reaching their full potential. If we continue to talk to our children in different ways, they will continue it themselves in the future, never ending the gender stereotypes and gender-typical treatment.
