Gender Equality in Parenting

I find myself in the toy aisle, browsing the dress up section, the board games, the legos, and then I am standing in front of the action figures. I was standing in line with Iron Man in one hand and Ultron in the other, chatting to my husband about how much Jordan will love the new toys. A women overheard us talking and said "awe, how old is your little boy?" I replied with a smile, my daughter is four. She loves iron man." The lady a little shocked as expressed with her face, replied "oh, that's so cool." The conversation ended there. That's not the first time it has happened. 

I'm a mom to a little girl, who just so happens to have a unisex name. I wanted her to have a unisex name, to me they are so beautiful and universal. My little girl loves dressing up, playing with her toy kitchen, watching Doc Mcstuffins, and the Ninja Turtles, knows, and adores Captain America and Iron Man, and requests action figures instead of babies often.

People will look shocked and amazed about how much she knows when it comes to comics, and super heroes, and then we'll get responses, like "those are boy toys," or "wow, she's a little girl."

Who says a little girl can't play with action figures instead of dolls? Who says little girls have to like pink and wear dresses all of the time? Who says that we should put our daughters into dance or cheerleading rather than basketball or Tae Kwon Do? Who says?

I've always been a big advocate for allowing my child to choose and not forcing her to stick to "gender specific" stereotypes. Megan fox was shamed for allowing her son to wear a dress, or a skirt I believe, out in public. She was called a bad mother and many said she was setting her son up for failure.

I respect many parents who decide to stay neutral and raise their child as such. They allow their child's interests to persuade their choices.

My husband and I have talked many times about if we were to have a son, that if Jordan was playing dress up, or was getting her nails painted, then our son could too. These things do not make your child any less masculine or any less feminine. It's just a toy, it's just a movie, it's just a book, it's just a dress, it's just an object. And last time I checked, objects do not define who you are as an individual. 

So I will continue to allow my child to read (age-appropriate) comics, and to watch Iron Man and other super heroes. I will allow her to do whatever sport she's into. I will allow her to pick her favorite color, and it does not have to be pink or purple. And I will continue to teach my child that she can be and do anything that she puts her heart and mind too, that all little girls and boys are equal, and nothing is "gender specific."

Love & Light!

Jalesa