Did your parents reinforce gender stereotypes?

[mdr55]

Remember the old days when "Boys will be boys, and girls will be girls"?

Thinking back to growing up, boys and girls were expected and taught to act differently by our parents and at school (heaven forbid if a guy took home economics class or a girl took up mechanics class).

Looking back, I know at my house my typical chores when gender stereotypical: throwing out the trash, shoveling the snow, raking the leaves, washing the pots and pans (like that was so different from washing the dishes!) and what ever boys were expected to do.

For my sister her chores were usually: Washing the dishes, doing the laundry, cooking or baking, going grocery shopping, sweeping the floor and other stuff girls were expected to do.

How was it at your house or at school?



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This message was edited by mdr55 on 1-18-04 @ 12:46 PM

[MizzleTizzle]

I'm the middle of three boys, so our family didn't have the daughter - sister dynamic going on; explains a lot about me; I'd say.

I don't remember them reinforcing much of anything; when I wasn't outside building forts or jumping bicycles, I was building model planes and rockets.

And then, one day, like all guys, you discover your dick can do a lot more then just pee, and it's all been downhill from there.

I do, however, reinforce the 'Order of birth' stereotype, at least the one I heard where, of three kids, often:

Oldest ends up being most like the Dad; more business-like [my older bro sells stocks + bonds and stuff], more responsible about things. [he is]


Youngest ends up the more free-spirited one; most casual, but street smart, often career has little to do with Dad [younger Bro = Park Ranger after a decade as a teacher of mountain rescue]

And the Middle is just a weird, misdirected, unfocused person who doesnt know what they want to do when they grow up, even when they grow up. Often most fucked up. [middle bro = me.]

[TooCute]

No.

Although, I think for a long time my father wished my little brother were me, though, since my brother wasn't into any of the same hobbies as my dad (fishing, skiing, etc etc etc) and my dad would always buy HIM the stuff that really I would have used (baseball bats, fishing rods, guitars, etc etc etc), but now I think he finally figured it out and he doesn't bother my bro any more.

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[CrazyClare]

my mother was the breadwinner and came home late at night, my dad was home early and made my dinner every night.

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[FUNKMAN]

It was 4 brothers and I so we shared in all the chores. Plus we were living on the 4th floor in my grandpops apt house and my dad did almost all the maintenance and upkeep. One time we had a break in the watermain between the house and the street. Dad got a sledgehammer, broke the sidewalk up and we just started digging, he just guessed where the break was and we dug down at least 6 feet and there it was. he fixed it himself. Money was always tight.

Another time i blew a headgasket and we took the car in my uncles yard nextdoor and he built this thing from wood to hang a chain and pulley on and directed me on taking the engine out, got it fixed, and few weeks later directed me on putting it back in.

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[Arienette]

i'd say no. i grew up one of two daughters in a house with a dominant mother figure. my mother always told my sister and i that we could do anything a man could do, and that men were stupid.

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[sr71blackbird]

In my house, the boys did the yard work, snow shoveling and heavy work, and my sisters did the cleaning and bed making and helping with cooking. It was understood that the chores were a prelude to what was to be expected later in life; a woman being able to keep a house up was desireable if she was to ever marry. This is just what it was, nothing suggesting that man cant cook and clean, or that a girl couldnt shovel snow, as indeed, we all did interchange when the need arose. To this day, I sew my own buttons and cook and clean etc. along with the heavy manual labor. I dont think theres anything to be ashamed of regardless. Its always good to know how to do stuff....aiiight??

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