Does a toy kitchen reinforce gender stereotypes? | Trending Viral hub

Dear Amy: My husband and I have a daughter, “Emma.” She has three years.

We are thoughtful and responsible parents (at least we think so…).

We have a question about gift giving.

Our daughter goes to a daycare program a couple mornings a week and does very well.

While at school, he loves to play with a miniature cooking set. She has a small sink and a toy stove with pots and pans.

We told my sister we were thinking about getting a version of this for our daughter for Christmas (my sister has kids too), but she strongly disapproves because, as she says, these types of toys “reinforce gender stereotypes.”

Now we feel weird and decided to seek your opinion.

– Wondered parents

Dear Asking: Many parents are worried about reinforcing gender stereotypes… until that moment when their toddler really loves playing with their cousin’s toy excavator, or their daughter falls in love with a Tiny Tammy doll.

Are you willing to deny your child the joy and learning experience of playing with an object he truly loves to please his sister, or pat himself on the back for consistently adhering to his powerful ideals?

I hope not.

In my opinion, you have indirectly absorbed the very real issue of gender stereotypes.

The idea is not to deny your child toys that are stereotypically associated with their gender, but rather to widely offer them toys and experiences that are typically associated with their gender. any gender.

One might think that play (like gender) occurs on a spectrum that the child has the power and autonomy to determine on the fly, not parents (nor, for that matter, toy company marketing departments). ).

And so, if your son wants a Tiny Tammy doll, he should receive it and be encouraged or allowed to play with it, and if your daughter chooses to wash her toy excavator in her imaginary kitchen sink, then more power to her.

The line I would draw (this Christmas and beyond) is toys that encourage violence or imitate weaponry.

(And yes, we all know your daughter can pretend her wiffleball bat is a gun, but at the end of the day, she knows it’s a wiffleball bat.)

Dear Amy: My mother died five years ago.

I supported my stepfather financially for three of those five years and spent quality time with him.

He met another woman and deliberately hid the fact that he was dating her from me and my sister.

He decided to sell the house I grew up in. She didn’t tell me where she was moving to.

Now my sister is angry with me, because I choose not to participate in his family gatherings, which he attends with his new partner.

This man refused to tell me the truth, after I asked him repeatedly.

My mother’s family members have disowned me for it.

I’m wrong?

– J.D.

Dear JD: Let’s say that I can somehow magically determine that you are “right.”

Would it then be better to present an Ask Amy™ Certificate of Correction to your family members?

I doubt it.

So let me avoid trying to determine if your behavior is wrong.

This is more of a social and family dilemma than an ethical one.

I don’t know why your stepfather avoids you.

Perhaps he is worried that you believe he owes you money (because of your previous financial support).

He might be ashamed of some of his own actions and too embarrassed to confront you.

He may be a coward in general or he may be legitimately afraid of you.

Your family members seem to have circled around this man, and your reaction has placed you outside the circle.

If you were open to it (rather than just defending your own position), you could take a look around you and at least ask yourself what you could be doing to inspire your entire family to disconnect from you.

Dear Amy: Responding to “TikToked-Off,” like them, I used to feel uncomfortable when they took my photo and video.

I had a friend who would film no matter what I said.

This friend died suddenly and now watching the frozen-in-time videos helps me deal with my loss and closure.

From my point of view, unless you are in the witness protection program or have been indecently filmed, you may one day truly treasure those captured moments.

– Remembered

Dear Remembered: I really appreciate your perspective. Thank you.

(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, PO Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter. @askingamy either Facebook.)