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Gender identity

I came across some short articles on the differences between boys and girls and raising them, that I thought might be interesting.

In the books I had read about raising boys, they mention some of the points raised in the links below - different expectations for boys/girls, different language is used with both, the difference in physical and emotional maturity. Although these online articles are not very detailed, it certainly gives you a flavour for some of the current thinking on this. For me, it is enlightening to learn more about how what I do, what I say and how their experiences affect how they behave and interact with the world around them.

From TVs to Toys:What shapes boys into boys and girls into girls

Differences in raising boys and girls

As a further example to the different messages that boys get to girls and how in turn it affects their behaviour (circular reinforcement), check out this lemonade experiment.

Difference between boys and girls

When Lucas was born, we didn't explicitly exclude girl toys from him or actively encourage more boy or girl behaviours. Frankly we were too exhausted to care either way. As he grew older we simply went where he wanted to take us, and gave him more of what he was interested in. His behaviour was largely shaped by his peer group in daycare. Liam on the other hand, is surrounded by boy stuff at home (army men out the wazoo, Legos, wild and loud behaviour, running, jumping and screaming) - a legacy from his big brother. Would he have been different if he had a more gender-neutral environment? Does it matter?

I don't know, but all I know is that we are not about to change anything.

P.S.
In my last post, I wasn't quite sure what to do with my various interests and my limited time. But for now, I've decided that I will rework this site (already updated my profile), to be a more general parenting blog and any other things that interest me. My writing life will remain separate, until I feel I have something to publish and feel compelled to develop a brand identity (must try and retain some work vocabulary).
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