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In reply to the discussion: You Can Give a Boy a Doll, but You Can't Make Him Play With It [View all]surrealAmerican
(11,360 posts)7. I agree with most of your post, but ...
... I must take exception to the idea of "hard wired" toy preferences. Babies and toddlers absorb far more from our culture than you might realize. That would seem to me the most likely explanation for stereotypical behavior in preschoolers.
I know my own son did play out story scenarios with barbie dolls, and my daughter did set up construction areas with toy trucks. They also played in more gender stereotypical ways. I doubt that they were very atypical for young children.
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"boys and girls, on average, do not have identical interests, propensities, or needs"
Mass
Dec 2012
#6
I once hanged all of my doll house figures. I used yarn. I can't remember why I wanted to
CTyankee
Dec 2012
#22
I agree. Even as a theoretical deterrent, it's like the proverbial sledgehammer.
nomorenomore08
Dec 2012
#42
Well why don't you post the list of sources that meets your approval so we can start following it.
undeterred
Dec 2012
#39
Christina Hoff Sommers, in group tied to ALEC, the American Enterprise Institute
Starry Messenger
Dec 2012
#34
As usual, I think the real problem is trying to force people into these little boxes.
nomorenomore08
Dec 2012
#41