“If you’re a boy, and you like teaching, you like nursing, you would like to have a doll, that’s okay….we should each be free to develop our own talents, whatever they may be, and not be held back by artificial barriers.” Ruth Bader Ginsburg
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the world I want my children to live in. I want them to be able to be who they truly are without fear. I want them to pursue their dreams without being told they are the wrong gender. I want them to be able to pick their extra curricular activities without worrying what others may think. I don’t want to get political, but I’m afraid for my childrens’ future.
We live in a society that is not always accepting of people who are different. We tell boys to be tough. They are thought of as weak if they cry or show emotions. Boys are meant to go down the blue aisles of the store and girls are meant to go down the pink aisles. Princesses are for girls. Trucks are for boys. It’s okay for a girl to be a tomboy but we want our men to be a tough guy.
Don’t we want our sons to be nurturing fathers? Don’t we want them to show compassion to their partners? Don’t we want them to empathize with others? If we encourage girls to pursue their dreams and passions, shouldn’t we also do this for our sons? Even if their passion is to do what is considered “girly”?
I am fascinated with literature that promotes all children to be themselves. My website is full of stories that I have found and I am constantly finding more and more to add to my list. I read a few books recently with my children that really defy the typical stereotypes we think of with “tough guys” and “tomboys”. I think with our ever changing world, we need to find positive role models (both male and female or other) that encourage all children to follow their dreams.
I feel these three books go hand in hand. Ben Brooks wrote Stories For Foys Who Dare To Be Different and Stories for Kids Who Dare To Be Different. Both were illustrated by Quinton Winter. I love these books because they show kids that you don’t have to be a superhero to do amazing things. Real people do amazing things every day. And Ben Brooks tells you about a ton of amazing people. Patch Adams, Steve Irwin, John Lennon, Jim Henson, Joan of Arc, and Greta Gerwig are just a few of the ones mentioned in these books. 50 Real Heroes for Boys by Christy Monson is similar in how it shows that real people do amazing things. I like that it lists superpowers as compassion, confidence, integrity, sacrifice and so much more. These are traits we all have. The people in the book are heroes because they have done amazing things for others in order to try and change the world. The world is full of heroes who do amazing things every day. (You can find links to these books and a bunch more on my Book Recommendations page).
I had my first major troll on instagram this past week where I had comments of the sort , “How is it okay to be different?” and “You think it’s okay if my son was gay?” This makes me more concerned than upset. Concerned for people who think that everyone should be the same. Concerned for people that think my son can not follow his passions. Concerned for people that think all boys must be “tough guys”. Concerned for what will happen in November. Will my boys’ future be okay? Am I going to have to be more worried than I already am for my children?
I hope that we will live in a world where our children will not be held back by artificial barriers. Boys and girls should be able to pursue their passions and dreams. Real heroes are normal people who defy the odds every day. Our feelings and emotions can be our superpowers.
All children should be able to be their true selves. The world I want my children to live in, is one that does not hold them back. As RBG said, “…we should each be free to develop our own talents, whatever they may be, and not be held back by artificial barriers.” I want this world for my children.
