In the article, Orenstien argues that children are automatically placed in a "boy" or "girl" category as soon as they are born and are expected to comply to the gender specific standards.
BOYS: blue, cars, sports, tough, loud, dirty, masculine, tools, video games, in charge, trains
http://people.mills.edu/spertus/Gender/pap/node6.html
The above categories are what are typically associated with each gender according to the article and in real life. Little girls are obsessed with Disney princesses, believing that their lives should be like a fairytale. Those movies tell them that if they're pretty and thin then their handsome prince would show up on their doorstep.
Boys are brought up to be rough and tough, like Tonka toys. They dream of being superman and spiderman at a young age.If a boy wanted to wear a tutu it would be a big "no no" for society for boys to have a liking for girly things. Yet, if a girl wanted to wear a superman costume, it is socially acceptable. It's "cool" if a girl wants to try something thats typical related to boys. Being a tomboy is acceptable, a boy being girly is not in society. What's sad is that boys and girls even as young as 18 months would choose a toy associated with their gender, rather then what they would prefer to play with.
In class: How do you feel about being put into a blue or pink category as soon as you're born? Too bad kids can't choose what they like instead of being given what they should be playing with. How would kids be if there were no stereotypes?
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