tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7180324998955182830.post4914716664970352759..comments2012-12-07T06:50:37.396-08:00Comments on procrastinate?writenow: SexismJo-Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705983780352542190noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7180324998955182830.post-8713167761399186222011-10-24T20:09:17.099-07:002011-10-24T20:09:17.099-07:00Way back in 1989 I worked for a distributor of edu...Way back in 1989 I worked for a distributor of educational materials for kids 5-18. My job was to evaluate books, filmstrips, computer programs, etc that were submitted for our service and to write them up for our various catalogs if they were accepted. I was very sensitive to how gender roles were portrayed, as were the others in the editorial department with me. The majority (though maybe not most) of the materials 20+ years ago that came through were fairly balanced in regard to gender and race. <br /><br />It's hard though to decide what balance means. If it's a book on careers, do you portray them by showing a female doctor and a male veterinarian? A female firefighter and a male policeman? Whatever you do, someone's bound to complain. <br /><br />Then again, is it always necessary to go against stereotype? It seems there's a huge backlash against the lib movement of the 70s and early 80s, and girls are still happy with the pink and the frills and the boy-craziness that many thought they would eschew by now if presented with other options. <br /><br />Real role models are probably the best thing we can offer the kids. And I have to say, in the high-tech field I was recently in, there was a nearly equal balance between males and females. As long as boys and girls are presented with the idea that there are fewer and fewer gender-specific roles, then they'll be able to work out for themselves what's comfortable for them. Some kids will still drift into the stereotypes but that doesn't make them wrong for choosing stereotypical roles, does it? <br /><br />But, yeah, even 20+ years later, gender parity is still a tough call...Phoenix Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03290349031002504007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7180324998955182830.post-35968830132415884492011-10-23T15:30:26.259-07:002011-10-23T15:30:26.259-07:00@Karen
You're probably right.
I've turned...@Karen<br />You're probably right. <br />I've turned the microscope on my works. The girls tend to be smarter, the boys more impulsive - the girls tend to solve the problems. Sure, I'm presenting a positive view of girls, but I'm colluding with the message that it's "normal" for boys to be loud and bend the rules, but not for girls.<br />Maybe my girls need to be naughtier, my boys more cautious.Jo-Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15705983780352542190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7180324998955182830.post-58043572425056818102011-10-23T14:12:16.518-07:002011-10-23T14:12:16.518-07:00It's an interesting subject to ponder. And whe...It's an interesting subject to ponder. And when we are writing with our own ingrained biases, it's hard to set that aside to write something that works against them. Honestly, I think the best way to counter against subtle messages is with directness.Karen M. Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06972093977468313631noreply@blogger.com