Random thoughts...
Hokay. So I biked to campus with Mike, Jamie's brother, and we wandered around briefly. Stopped off at TIm Horton's so I could eat something (yes, I actually have food in the house now, but you didn't expect me to actually eat it did you?) and then the book store so he could look at shirts. Right next to the door, in the window, is a display of new binders and clipboards: pale pink, hot pink, baby blue, and lime green. I jokingly asked if Mike needed one, and he replied they were kind of girly looking. To which I agreed, obviously the dark green ones they used to have are far too masculine. Which got me wondering. How did certain colours become "boy" and "girl" colours? I suppose I can understand with newborns in the hospital, why they might need different colours so that strangers wandering by can tell if the squirmy wrinkly thing you're holding is male or female. But, other than that, who cares?
In one of my classes last year, I'm thinking either Child Development or Individuals with Exceptionalities, we had a lecture on genderization. Obviously it happens very early, social expectations, blah, blah, blah. What I found to be the most intersting part, tho, is the fact that some people are becoming less genderized, instead taking on the more positive traits of both masculine and feminine. And, in studies, it's found that those types of people tend to do better in more areas of life. Makes sense. If you can have the emotional/social skills that are typically female, as well as the drive for accomplishment and self-confidence that are typically male, you're going to do pretty well.
So the class got into this big discussion, should parents be aiming on fostering both masculine and feminine traits in their children? Should the big football dad let his son play with dolls? Should the socialite mom let her daughter play in the mud? If it helps them in later life, wouldn't that be a good thing? What sorts of downsides could we expect? Now, to be honest I'm not sure if this came up in so many words but I do have a sense that it was floating in the air, but one of the downsides I seem to recall was that it might cause more homosexuality in the world. Granted, physical differences would still exist, but if we're attracted to someone based on his or her personality/traits/whatever, then wouldn't this open things up a little? Please note: I'm not saying I actually view this as a bad thing. Although, lord knows, now that "they" can get married, the world is clearly going to hell in a handbasket :P
Anyway, because I'm become a bit of a narcissist in my old age, I'm wondering about myself. I was a definite tomboy. I've always tended to have more guy friends than girl friends (except for high school, although I hardly hung out with "girly girls"). If you ask Ed, I'm "kind of a girl". I'm not sure what that means for my life. Or if it has to mean anything at all. People like to say we live in a less sexist world, I think I can agree for the most part. Yes there are still problems, but let's be honest there will always be problems. And I really don't think that spelling it "womyn" instead of "women" is going to make a huge difference. It's a failing, I realize that.
Okay. Enough serious thought. I am now going to glance at my notes, go swimming, glance at my notes some more, and then write a final. Hugs and howls to all.
In one of my classes last year, I'm thinking either Child Development or Individuals with Exceptionalities, we had a lecture on genderization. Obviously it happens very early, social expectations, blah, blah, blah. What I found to be the most intersting part, tho, is the fact that some people are becoming less genderized, instead taking on the more positive traits of both masculine and feminine. And, in studies, it's found that those types of people tend to do better in more areas of life. Makes sense. If you can have the emotional/social skills that are typically female, as well as the drive for accomplishment and self-confidence that are typically male, you're going to do pretty well.
So the class got into this big discussion, should parents be aiming on fostering both masculine and feminine traits in their children? Should the big football dad let his son play with dolls? Should the socialite mom let her daughter play in the mud? If it helps them in later life, wouldn't that be a good thing? What sorts of downsides could we expect? Now, to be honest I'm not sure if this came up in so many words but I do have a sense that it was floating in the air, but one of the downsides I seem to recall was that it might cause more homosexuality in the world. Granted, physical differences would still exist, but if we're attracted to someone based on his or her personality/traits/whatever, then wouldn't this open things up a little? Please note: I'm not saying I actually view this as a bad thing. Although, lord knows, now that "they" can get married, the world is clearly going to hell in a handbasket :P
Anyway, because I'm become a bit of a narcissist in my old age, I'm wondering about myself. I was a definite tomboy. I've always tended to have more guy friends than girl friends (except for high school, although I hardly hung out with "girly girls"). If you ask Ed, I'm "kind of a girl". I'm not sure what that means for my life. Or if it has to mean anything at all. People like to say we live in a less sexist world, I think I can agree for the most part. Yes there are still problems, but let's be honest there will always be problems. And I really don't think that spelling it "womyn" instead of "women" is going to make a huge difference. It's a failing, I realize that.
Okay. Enough serious thought. I am now going to glance at my notes, go swimming, glance at my notes some more, and then write a final. Hugs and howls to all.