another rant from Valerie

[Valerie White <valerie forevermail com>]

My understanding is that there is essentially no credible research to show 
INNATE differences between baby boys and girls (other than what's in their 
diapers!), but that adults react to babies differently based on their 
perceived gender--one story I heard from a linguistics professor told of 
the strong baby girl who was pulling herself up on her daddy's fingers at 
the doctor's office and a passing woman said, "Oh, what a strong boy you 
are!"  When Daddy said, "She's a girl," the woman said, "Isn't it nice of 
Daddy to pull you up like that!"  In other words, as soon as she knew the 
baby was a girl she stripped her of her agency.  Other research has shown 
that parents are more protective of baby girls, respond more 
sympathetically to their cries when they get hurt exploring, keep them 
closer to hand . . .  It is something we need to be aware of  and try to 
compensate for in order to make vigorous, assertive, self-actualizing, 
authentic girls!!  (And sensitive, caring, introspective boys!)

In actual fact, our girl twin, who was TWO pounds lighter at birth, is WAY 
more adventurous and physical than our boy twin . . . climbs everywhere, 
runs everywhere, interacts with strangers, while he is intensely engaged 
in making block towers or looking at books.

Go figger.

Valerie