Girls vs. Boys

Yesterday, I noticed that one of the headlights on my truck was burned out. Not a big deal- nothing a quick trip to the auto parts store and a wrench couldn't fix. And I didn't even break a nail doing it! I may have chipped my nail polish, but it was coming off anyway, so I'm not sure how much of that was from digging around under the hood.

By the way, you read that right. I am one of those women who knows how to change a headlight on a vehicle. It may have taken me longer than it would have taken someone with more experience, but according to the directions I looked up (my truck manuel only covered the tail lights and license plate lights), it still took less than the hour estimated.

For myself, I never understood why that kind of thing should deserve so much recognition. While I was working on getting that bulb changed, I kept thinking how much easier it probably was for me to reach into the tiny space left to get at the bulb.  The Husband or my brothers would have had much more trouble- because their hand/ arm would not have fit into the space as easily.

But on to my point...  It makes me so sad to see such distinct lines between "boy toys" and "girl toys", and to see any child discouraged from playing with a toy because it is for the opposite gender. (Thanks, Mom and Dad, for teaching us that learning was more important than who a toy was intended for.)  To go to the stores and see girl aisles full of dolls, dishes, and phones. To see boy aisles filled with building sets, cars, and adventure toys.

I wonder what would happen if more boys were encouraged to interact with dolls and play house- by the marketing gurus who show a disproportionate number of girls vs. boys with those toys.  Would we end up with more boys who feel that contributing to house work and child care is appropriate and expected?  Probably.  (Not to suggest that there aren't already men who do this.)  And, likely, it wouldn't be such a surprise when it does.  One thing I dislike hearing is how a father is 'babysitting' his own child. As a former babysitter, I can tell you  it doesn't work like that when it is your child.  That is parenting. I know that no one calls it babysitting when it applies to me and my children- at least not to my face. :)

What would happen of the girl toys were LEGO sets and tools and cars? Wait, let me rephrase that... What if the girl Lego sets were adventure themed, instead of home, and bakery, and shopping?  What if we showed our girls that they can in fact competently use the same tools that boys use?  Maybe, just maybe, we would get women more confident in their own skills and abilities. More girls having the kinds of adventures that let them do what they dream. (Again, not to say that we don't already have these women in the world...)

We have come a long way in expressing the roles of men and women to our children. But when I only have to walk down a toy aisle to see how far we can still go... Well, I know we still have our work cut out for us.

For myself, I won't be surprised at all when my daughter fixes her car by herself.