Posted by
D W W Robertson on Thursday, April 17, 2008 1:43:30 PM
"Karen Quinn, a New York City-based author, likes to think of herself as a progressive parent. A former lawyer and businesswoman, she paints, writes books (three novels to date) and tries to avoid pushing her two kids -- Sam, 15, and his sister Schuyler, 16 -- into gender-based pigeonholes. But when it comes to money, she finds Sam and Schuyler are spending right along gender lines. Both drop the biggest part of their weekly allowances on food -- fast food for Sam, who gets $80 a week, and Chinese and Japanese takeout for Schuyler, who is given $120. Movies are a close second. But after that, Sam's money goes to ring tones, music and videos; Schuyler spends her money on clothes and shoes.
I’m not really sure why this point about gender is so prominent in an article with this title. However, what amazes me is how surprised and even flabbergasted this mother is at the fact that boys and girls act different without being coerced by their parents. Sure, staunch gender-sameness supporters will say that society is so prevalent with gender stereotypes that these children have fallen into it in spite of parents efforts not to promote any stereotypes. Can anyone really believe this? It is as though she is surprised that boys have more testosterone and girls have more estrogen. Or is that just a stereotype?
I can guarantee you that this woman learned this gender-sameness nonsense from the university she attended. I’m sure that the university professors were very impressed with themselves when they came up with this idea. This mom is so proud to be a “progressive parent.” No doubt she is proud that she holds idiotic ideas and she has no intent to reexamine her beliefs given that her personal experience dictates otherwise. This college educated generation worries me. Common sense is traded for political correctness and it is seeping into the fabric of our society.
Parents, don't be surprised if your kids come out of college believing this nonsense.