Sugar and Spice or Snails and Puppy-dog Tails: Influences on Gender Identity in Children

The Girl Scouts of Colorado claims to be an “inclusive organization,” who welcomes all children as long as they identify as girls (“Boy Wanting to Join Girl Scouts Told ‘No’”). However, an eight year old boy from Colorado, Bobby Montoya, wished to join the Girl Scouts and was turned away because he had “boy parts” (“Boy Wanting to Join Girl Scouts Told ‘No’”). In a news report aired by 9 News of Denver, Colorado, Bobby and his mother were interviewed concerning their plight (link). For his interview, young Bobby wore his long hair braided, and was clothed in a flowing shirt, skinny jeans, and knee-high boots: attire some may consider only appropriate for girls. Bobby showed the interviewer (and the audience) his toy collection, which consisted mostly of Barbies, Bratz Dolls, and My Little Pony Toys. Despite the fact that he identifies as a girl, dresses like a girl, and plays with toys that are generally associated with little girls, Bobby Montoya was discriminated against and was not allowed to join the Girl Scouts. After airing the interview with Bobby and his mother, the news anchors for 9 News interviewed a clinical psychologist to figure out whether it was Bobby’s mother’s ‘fault’ that Bobby looked and acted like a girl. The question that should have been asked is: is it anyone’s fault? This news clip of Bobby and his mother provides a prime, firsthand example of a child whose ideas of gender roles and identity are different from other children his age, but is anyone at fault? Does Bobby dress and act this way because of his own liking for girl-typed toys and clothes, or did his mother influence him? The big question is: are the types of toys and clothing parents buy for their children meant to introduce and reinforce gender ...

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...s parents buy for their children are meant to introduce and reinforce gender role concepts; whether or not they do this accurately remains to be seen until the child grows older.

Works Cited

Bailey, Michael J. Zucker, Kenneth J. “Childhood Sex-typed Behavior and Sexual Orientation: A Conceptual Analysis and Quantitative Review.” Developmental Psychology Vol 31. 1 (1995): 12. PDF.

“Boy Wanting to Join Girl Scouts Told ‘No’.” Online Video Clip. 26 Oct, 2011. Youtube. 10 Nov. 2011. http://bcove.me/k79glbg2

Francis, Becky. “Gender, toys, and learning.” Oxford review of Education Vol 36. No 3: (2010). 19. Print.

Freeman, Nancy K. “Preschoolers’ Perceptions of Gender Appropriate Toys and

Their Parents’ Beliefs about Genderized Behaviors: Miscommunication, Mixed Messages, or Hidden Truths?” Early Childhood Education Journal Vol 34. No 5 (2007): 9. Print.