How Do You Plan To Raise A Gender Equal Generation? [#WomenOnTheMove]

It’s time to scrap ‘boy colors’ and ‘girl toys’ and raise a gender equal generation. [#WomenOnTheMove]

It’s time to scrap ‘boy colours’ and ‘girl toys’ and raise a gender equal generation. Excerpts from our weekly #WomenOnTheMove Twitter chat.

Gender Neutral Parenting — these three words enclose a range of beliefs and behaviors within different individuals and parents. For some it might simply mean choosing a gender neutral name for their newborn baby whereas for others it might mean saying no to regressive gender cliches like ‘blue is for boys’ and ‘pink is for girls‘.

And then there are some parents who take a step further and refuse to associate their baby with any sex per se. These parents prefer their new-born be addressed just as  a ‘baby’ rather than a ‘baby boy’ or a ‘baby girl’. Why? Because the minute we associate a particular ‘sex’ to a baby, knowingly or unknowingly, we start assigning a gender specific prefix to the child like a ‘strong boy’ or a ‘pretty girl‘.

Gender neutrality is not just about finding a gender neutral middle but is about offering a child the option to be whoever they want to be without feeling obliged to choose blue over pink or vice versa. Raising a gender equal generation means encouraging kids to learn and develop more choices and feel comfortable expressing themselves without being held back by what boys or girls “should” or “shouldn’t” do.

Earlier this week, we had our weekly #Womenonthemove chat over at Twitter, and this is what we discussed. (If you’re not yet following Women’s Web on Twitter, do now, and you can come over for the chat too, every Thursday 6-7PM IST).

Do kids face more or less gender stereotypes today than earlier?

Call out the regressive stereotypes and lead by examples

Nip gender roles at the start

Brands propagating gender stereotypes should be held accountable

Still a long way to go!

Image: Children lying down in a circle by Shutterstock

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Jyotishree Mohanty

A part time backpacker, an accidental baker, a doting mother, a loving wife, a pampered daughter, an inspired blogger, an amateur photographer read more...

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