Training Bras: Re: Growing up

» pentimento - Re: Growing up

In response to message posted by Tricia_S:

Tricia,

No offense taken.

I agree that kids are often plain and simple mean to each other. But I also know that often that meaness tends to pour out along gendered lines. Boys get tormented with names like "girl" "sissy" or "faggot" (all denoting that the boy is somehow not ok because he is somehow like a girl). Interestingly enough, this has been offered as an explanation for several of the latest boys with guns blowing up everything they can hit scenarios.

And I know it still happens in schools because I used to work with adolescents and they brought interaction styles with them when they got to my programs. I also have done workshops with teachers who note that they don't even bother with stopping the ubiquitous "bitch" and "ho" and "puta" and you name it put downs towards women. Phrases like "he is so gay" don't even set most teachers alarms off either. The reason is that putting down women and girls and men who "seem" somehow like women or girls is socially acceptable.

The fact that this is so has an impact -- albeit subtle -- on one's self esteem.

In the mean time, good for you for letting your kids be who they are.

regina

-- posted by pentimento