Letters to the Editor
AKA Smith
Published Letters: 4551 Editor's Choice: 83
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What confuses me about studies of children and gender roles . . .
[Read the article: ABC's of gender]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]is that often the researchers fall prey to gender role stereotypes when they conduct the study.
Allow me to offer an anecdote as an example and see if someone can enlighten me.
When my daughter was three, she went to preschool. I did not especially want her in preschool because I liked having her at home but my then-spouse needed my labor in business matters. He picked the preschool. After two months, I received a call from the woman who ran the preschool complaining about how disruptive my daughter was. Her words were, "She keeps wanting to play in the boy's room." It turned out that the woman had decided that boys should play only with boys in the room where there were "boy-type" toys, and that the girls should play only with girls in the room where there were "girl-type" toys. My daughter had no interest in dolls. She wanted to play with the trucks.
Naturally, I was horrified and withdrew her immediately. I did not want her forced into a feminine role. Actually, I did not want her forced into any role. Around the age of three, she was much happier playing outside and looking at "insects and arachnids" and she certainly knew the difference thanks to the field guides I bought her because she had begged for them. (She looked at the pictures and I had to read them to her.) She did not become an entomologist. However, now that she is an adult her primary interest/field is fashion and makeup. In case anyone should misunderstand, allow me to point out that makeup at its basic level is really about tool-wielding and technique. She has advanced to the artistry level.
I always puzzles me when people decide cooking, for instance, is a girl-thing. Cooking requires formulas, the proper tools, timing, and superior organizational skills. Why is it seen as a woman's role? Also, although more women than men use makeup, nothing in the skills of using makeup is gender specific as far as I know. To be good at it, certain spatial skills are required along with deftness.
Speaking of spatial skills both sewing and welding require superior spatial skills. I have known men who sew and women who weld. So what's the big deal?
I am clearly no scientist. However, I have a vague awareness of hormonal influences upon the developing brain. I am certainly willing to acknowledge that the brains of boys and girls and also women and men are different. But when people design these studies, how do they keep their own subjective paradigm from skewing the conclusions drawn?
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To quipdraw,
[Read the article: Hillary Clinton's labor problem]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]What possible rationale can you use for voting for Gulliani rather than Clinton? I would really like to know.
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To Pinetop_Pete,
[Read the article: Hillary Clinton's labor problem]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The religious fascists will never vote for Mitt Romney if they can have someone else instead. I live in the Bible Belt and I can tell you frankly that they don't see him as "Christian." There have been lots of right-wing "religious" book written exposing the LDS Church as being not only not Christian but dangerous and lunatic. Also, here in the U.S., Mormon missionaries "poach" members from Christian churches. The first thing those little guys with the ties on the bicycles tell their marks is that they are Christian. This really offends Christians in the Bible Belt. Where I live, the Baptists have never actually accepted the Catholics.
Lots of people who think they understand the Religious Right really don't. I have been both a Baptist and a Mormon. I know what makes 'em both tick.
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Brightstar, your post didn't bother me at all.
[Read the article: ABC's of gender]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Actually, I think is the best thing I have read of yours. Your comment shows a surprising flexability.
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Sorry for the spelling.
[Read the article: ABC's of gender]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I meant flexibility. Everytime I don't spellcheck a word I am uncertain of, I turn out to be wrong.
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Christopher1988,
[Read the article: Her sexy T-shirt says "Kitty Not Happy" -- is that OK at work?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I take it then that you are now in favor of topless beaches and swimming pools here in the US?
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To mattwa33186,
[Read the article: Hillary Clinton's labor problem]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]There will always be sheepdogs for sheep. These people here who are using that "throwing your vote away" stuff are merely exercising their sheepdog function. Good sheepdogs don't use their teeth, for sheep are very skittish creatures and easily injured. Let the sheepdogs nip if they want to. Chances are the sheep will just become upset and confused and go huddle together in a corner somewhere (and maybe not vote at all).
Those of us who are neither sheep nor sheepdogs will make our own independant decisions. Herding us is more like herding cats. Of course, if the dogs get too annoying, we may just claw the hell out them. We may vote Democratic, we may vote Republican, we may vote Green or Libertarian, but, by God, we will vote our own damn way.
By election time, maybe some of these sheepdogs will have learned better herding techniques. There are probably more votes lost by agressive or obvious tactics than are ever gained.
My Dad used to tell my Mom at election time: "Dearheart, let's get together and decide how WE will vote." Of course, he meant that they together should vote his way. She usually smiled and agreed with him. However, I was privy to the fact that, in the privacy of the voting booth, she voted her way. She never did herd well.