Boys are why's,
they're ifs and they're maybes
They think they are so big
But they're just big babies
Boys, the trouble with
Boys, the troubles with, boys
They're nothing but trouble
They'll make you think
they've got a halo above them
But boys are trouble
Trouble is all of them
Contrary to the title, this is not a boy-bashing post. I have nothing much to say in that area at the moment. I just like the lyrics. And boys are okay for the most part. Some of them. I will not generalize.
I just put up a gorgeous picture of me and my niece on Facebook (credits to my father.) I got lots of 'likes' and comments. It got me thinking.
As a general rule, girls are known to be more maternal. Here are some generalizations:
Girls babysit.
Girls play with dolls.
Girls are good with kids.
Mother's raise the kids.
Yes, these are generalizations. Some females are horrible with kids, can't stand them, don't want anything to do with them. Being a female doesn't mean you automatically know how to change a diaper or make a baby stop crying.
But how many teenage boys do you know who babysit for pocket money? Take care of their younger siblings, their nieces and nephews? I'm not saying it's not done. It just seems less common.
And yes, I know boys play with dolls, it helps them develop a sensitive side. And of course fathers have a big part in raising the kids.
I am not going along with the stereotype. I'm just saying it exists.
There's a 'Friends' episode where Joey and Chandler take care of Ross's son Ben. One of them carries the baby on his chest in a baby carrier. Tons of women come over to them to coo at the baby. People say babies are 'chick magnets'.
I want to know why. A female can take her younger siblings to the park or babysit her niece and it is accepted and normal. But a guy takes care of his little brother suddenly it's so 'awwww that's so cute, he must be such a sensitive guy'.
Is there such a concept of a male nanny? Yes, but much less so than females. It is not merely a stereotype, it is pretty much nature.
But why do guys get so much attention, while girls get nothing for something that comes naturally to them?
I think that both girls and boys get attention if they step outside of usual gender roles. For instance, when carrying a bouquet of flowers through a train station, so many commented on the fact that I was a girl with flowers.
ReplyDeleteDid they think you were buying them for someone or got it as a gift?
DeleteEvery single person thought I'd bought them for a man in my life. They then went on to tell me how awesome I was for buying flowers for a man instead of the other way around.
DeleteI'd gotten them to bring as guest gifts for wonderful friends who were hosting me over a 3 day Yomtov.
I would think it is weird to buy flowers for a man. What does he need flowers for? What does anyone need flowers for? Get him beer or hockey tickets.
DeleteI see your point. People pick up on non-conventional gender roles very quickly.