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Re: [apmultiples] another rant from Valerie

I would be interested.... Having BGB trips I have been thinking a lot about
it lately too.....
-Amy

----- Original Message -----
From: "Nancy Whittier" <NWHITTIE email smith edu>
To: <apmultiples yahoogroups com>
Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2004 9:21 AM
Subject: Re: [apmultiples] another rant from Valerie


> Yup, Valerie is right.  I'm a sociologist and gender is my area of
> specialization...there is a TON of research showing that adults react
> differently to babies depending on what gender they think they are.
>
> I don't want to start what is sure to be a really controversial thread
> here, since I know people have very different ideas about gender
> differences.  But as I'm parenting g/b twins, I have been thinking a lot
> about gender socialization and non-sexist parenting.  (It was way easier
> with our 8-yo son, since we just had one child and the day-to-day
> comparisons were nil.)  If anyone is interested in corresponding about
> these issues, I'd be really glad.  I was looking online the other day
> trying to find a good email forum on non-sexist parenting, but didn't
> turn one up.  If anyone knows of one, let me know.  Otherwise, maybe we
> could start a sub-list on the topic.  Let me know if you're interested.
>
> Nancy
>
> >>> valerie forevermail com 01/10/04 6:18 AM >>>
> 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
>
>
> "There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day." -
> Alexander Woollcott, American Author
>
>
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>
>
>
> "There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day." -
Alexander Woollcott, American Author
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
> To visit your group on the web, go to:
>  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/apmultiples/
>
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>
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>
>

"There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day." - Alexander Woollcott, American Author


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