From the second a child is born, they seem to be forced into a traditional gender role. The boys are wrapped into a blue blanket, while the girls are wrapped in pink blankets. These colors are the first step in dividing genders. Traditionallly in society, for the next coming months, parents will continue to adorn their child in his or her respective color. Why must these specific colors go with these specific genders? Could this be the start of parents expecting different things for their child? Parents' hopes and standards differ based on their child's gender. Gender stereotypes and the typical activities of boys and girls largely make up parents' expectations of their child. Rather than encourage their child to do whats expected of them, parents should encourage their child to contribute what they like.
Parents don't always seem to realize that gender shouldn't define their child's way of life. This misunderstanding can be found in a whole spectrum of everyday childhood activities, including sports. Girls are typically expected to be cheerleaders, dancers and participants in beauty pageants. Boys are typically expected to take part in sports such as wrestling, football and basketball. Traditional beliefs say that boys are more athletic and girls are to be danity. Parents often encourage their child to fit into these criteria without letting them explore their own interests. Because of this, some children feel like they don’t fit in at all. Parents should motivate their children to explore their own personal interests rather than forcing them to do what is expected.
Gender not only steers what parents expect their child to do, but also influences the rules they set. Parents tend to set more strict rules for girls than they do for boys. The assumption that girls are dainty and less capable of defending themselves leads parents to believe that girls need more protection. Girls typically have an earlier curfew, must be accompanied by someone else when going out, and aren’t allowed to date until an older age. On the other hand, parents usually make more flexible rules for boys. Boys commonly have a later curfew, more freedom to go places alone and are allowed to date at an earlier age. These types of rules show there’s a stereotype of boys being more independent and “tough” than girls, which drives parents to make different rules based on gender.
The stereotypes parents instill in their children will follow them throughout their lives, practically making their own decisions for the children. In many instances, this prevents children from pursing their own interests and happiness. Later in life, these stereotypes are reinforced by the media and occupational expectations. In order for the children to have happy lives, the parents should take their interest into account. Therefore, parents do have different hopes and standards for their sons than for their daughters.
