Navigating Gender-Neutral Parenting: A Family Therapist's Perspective
Performance Task
GWS 3500-Honors
Psychological Perspectives on Gender
Dr. Joetta Carr
August 8, 2012
Gender-Neutral Parenting?
Is it advantageous for children academically,
socially, psychologically?
Is it possible?
Is it worth the extra effort by parents?
Can it be harmful to children?
Is there evidence to support it?
Riley on Marketing
www.http://youtube/
Scenario
You are a family therapist working with a young
family. The wife and husband are very conflicted
about how to raise their boy & girl, ages 1 and 3.
The husband wants to raise them in traditional
gender roles, but the wife wants to raise them in a
more gender-neutral, non-stereotypical manner,
avoiding gender binaries. These conflicts have
come to a head and the couple is considering
divorce.
Role of Family Therapist
Your role is to guide the parents in their childrearing
decisions by:
* introducing them to “best practices”
* weighing the evidence for and against
* drawing conclusions based on evidence
* facilitating their communications
* identifying their gender stereotypes
* facilitating their negotiations on this issue
Product
A Written Report to the Parents reviewing
the pros and cons of gender-neutral
parenting based on available evidence and
making a professional recommendation to
them
Skills Needed by Students
Information Literacy Evaluation
Media Literacy Evaluation
Weighing Evidence
Drawing Conclusions Based on Evidence
Detecting Flaws in Logic or Research
Identifying “Holes” in Research
Critical Thinking
Unifying Themes and Theories
Gender Performance & Accomplishment
Gender Norms and Nonconformity
Heteronormativity
Homophobia
Patterns of Parental Gender Typing
Hegemonic Masculinity
Enforcing Gender Boundaries
How process replicates real world
process
Making decisions about parenting using
evidence-based practices in the best
interests of the child and the culture
Dimensions of Gender-Neutral
Parenting
Clothing
Toys and Play
TV/Videos
Books
Peers
Education
Sports
Activities
Emotionality
Passivity
Gender
Awareness
Parental Verbal &
Nonverbal
Behaviors
Document A
“NO WAY MY BOYS ARE GOING TO BE LIKE THAT!”
Parents’ Responses to Children’s Gender
Nonconformity by Emily Kane
Drawing on qualitative interviews with parents of preschool children, the author
addresses parental responses to children’s gender nonconformity. The author’s
analyses indicate that parents welcome what they perceive as gender nonconformity
among their young daughters, while their responses in relation to sons are more
complex. Many parents across racial and class backgrounds accept or encourage
some tendencies they consider atypical for boys. But this acceptance is balanced by
efforts to approximate hegemonic ideals of masculinity. The author considers these
patterns in the context of gender as an interactional accomplishment, demonstrating
that parents are often consciously aware of their own role in accomplishing gender
with and for their sons. Heterosexual fathers are especially likely to be motivated in
that accomplishment work by their own personal endorsement of hegemonic
masculinity, while heterosexual mothers and gay parents are more likely to be
motivated by accountabil ity to others in relation to those ideals.
Exhibit B
Tomboy Video
Animated short film by Barb Taylor
Document C
The American Academy of Pediatrics (1999, 143) includes
this advice under the section heading “When Gender
Identity Becomes Confused”
Some families try hard to treat all their children similarly, regardless
of sex. But this type of childrearing can deny inherent differences
among youngsters. Also, even when gender-neutral childrearing is
attempted, it is very difficult to accomplish. . . . Gender-neutral
childrearing has the advantage of helping parents and youngsters
identify universally desirable human traits and values they would like
to adopt and promote. It also might enhance relationships between
boys and girls (and men and women). However, keep in mind that
boys and girls are sometimes inclined toward different interests and
behaviors. If you ignore biological differences, you can deny children
the opportunities to build on their innate strengths
.
Document D
WILLIAM WANTS A DOLL. CAN HE HAVE ONE?
Feminists, Child Care Advisors, and Gender-Neutral
Child Rearing
KARIN A. MARTIN University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Using an analysis of child care books and parenting Web sites, this
article asks if second-wave femi- nism’s vision of gender-neutral
child rearing has been incorporated into contemporary advice on
child rearing. The data suggest that while feminist understandings
of gender have made significant inroads into popular advice,
especially with regard to the social construction of gender,
something akin to “a stalled revolution” has taken place. Children’s
gender nonconformity is still viewed as problematic because it is
linked implicitly and explicitly to homosexuality.
Document E
Should the World of Toys Be Gender-Free?
By PEGGY ORENSTEIN (New York Times, Dec 29, 2011)
Hamleys, which is London’s 251-year-old version of F.A.O. Schwarz, recently
dismantled its pink “girls” and blue “boys” sections in favor of a gender-
neutral store with red-and-white signage. Rather than floors dedicated to
Barbie dolls and action figures, merchandise is now organized by types.
That free-to-be gesture was offset by Lego, whose Friends collection, aimed
at girls, will hit stores this month with the goal of becoming a holiday must-
have by the fall. Set in fictive Heartlake City (and supported by a $40 million
marketing campaign), the line features new, pastel-colored blocks
Document F
It’s A Boy! Couple Reveal the Sex of Their ‘Gender
Neutral” Kid After Five Years
(Newspaper article:
The Sun UK, video)
A couple who concealed the sex of their child and raised it as ‘gender
neutral’ for FIVE YEARS have finally revealed - it’s a BOY.
Beck Laxton, 46, and partner Kieran Cooper, 44, decided not to reveal baby
Sasha’s gender in the hope it would let its ’real’ personality shine through.
They referred to it as “The Infant” and only allowed their child to play with
’gender-neutral toys’ in their television-free home.
During the first five years of his life, Sasha has alternated between girls’ and
boys’ outfits, leaving friends, playmates and relatives guessing.
Document G
feminist debates: spring 2011
Sign In
Home
Blog
Syllabus
Assignments
Reading Schedule
DE 04/11: Gender-Neutral Parenting
Document H
Louann Brizendine. 2007.
The Female Brain
. London:
Bantam Press.
“One of my patients gave her 3 ½ year old daughter many
unisex toys, including a bright red fire truck instead of a doll.
She walked into her daughter’s room…to find her cuddling the
truck in a baby blanket, rocking it back and forth saying, “Don’t
worry, little truckie, everything will be all right.”
Document I
10 Myths About Gender Neutral
Parenting—
A
Blog
by Arwyn Arising. Raising My
Boychick, 2011.
Classroom Application
Students work on parts of performance tasks over time
Do I divide class into for and against or have them choose?
Do they work in groups or individually?
Shall I orchestrate a formal debate?
Students do additional research to obtain research
Task coincides with reading memoir on gender-neutral
parenting experiment
A family therapist assists a conflicted couple in deciding between traditional gender roles and gender-neutral parenting for their young children, exploring the advantages, challenges, and evidence-based recommendations. Skills like information literacy, critical thinking, and communication are essential for guiding parents in this complex decision-making process.
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Presentation Transcript
Performance Task GWS 3500-Honors Psychological Perspectives on Gender Dr. Joetta Carr August 8, 2012
Gender-Neutral Parenting? Is it advantageous for children academically, socially, psychologically? Is it possible? Is it worth the extra effort by parents? Can it be harmful to children? Is there evidence to support it?
Riley on Marketing www.http://youtube/
Scenario You are a family therapist working with a young family. The wife and husband are very conflicted about how to raise their boy & girl, ages 1 and 3. The husband wants to raise them in traditional gender roles, but the wife wants to raise them in a more gender-neutral, non-stereotypical manner, avoiding gender binaries. These conflicts have come to a head and the couple is considering divorce.
Role of Family Therapist Your role is to guide the parents in their childrearing decisions by: * introducing them to best practices * weighing the evidence for and against * drawing conclusions based on evidence * facilitating their communications * identifying their gender stereotypes * facilitating their negotiations on this issue
Product A Written Report to the Parents reviewing the pros and cons of gender-neutral parenting based on available evidence and making a professional recommendation to them
Skills Needed by Students Information Literacy Evaluation Media Literacy Evaluation Weighing Evidence Drawing Conclusions Based on Evidence Detecting Flaws in Logic or Research Identifying Holes in Research Critical Thinking
Unifying Themes and Theories Gender Performance & Accomplishment Gender Norms and Nonconformity Heteronormativity Homophobia Patterns of Parental Gender Typing Hegemonic Masculinity Enforcing Gender Boundaries
How process replicates real world process Making decisions about parenting using evidence-based practices in the best interests of the child and the culture
Dimensions of Gender-Neutral Parenting Clothing Toys and Play TV/Videos Books Peers Education Sports Activities Emotionality Passivity Gender Awareness Parental Verbal & Nonverbal Behaviors
Document A NO WAY MY BOYS ARE GOING TO BE LIKE THAT! Parents Responses to Children s Gender Nonconformity by Emily Kane Drawing on qualitative interviews with parents of preschool children, the author addresses parental responses to children s gender nonconformity. The author s analyses indicate that parents welcome what they perceive as gender nonconformity among their young daughters, while their responses in relation to sons are more complex. Many parents across racial and class backgrounds accept or encourage some tendencies they consider atypical for boys. But this acceptance is balanced by efforts to approximate hegemonic ideals of masculinity. The author considers these patterns in the context of gender as an interactional accomplishment, demonstrating that parents are often consciously aware of their own role in accomplishing gender with and for their sons. Heterosexual fathers are especially likely to be motivated in that accomplishment work by their own personal endorsement of hegemonic masculinity, while heterosexual mothers and gay parents are more likely to be motivated by accountabil ity to others in relation to those ideals.
Exhibit B Tomboy Video Animated short film by Barb Taylor
Document C The American Academy of Pediatrics (1999, 143) includes this advice under the section heading When Gender Identity Becomes Confused Some families try hard to treat all their children similarly, regardless of sex. But this type of childrearing can deny inherent differences among youngsters. Also, even when gender-neutral childrearing is attempted, it is very difficult to accomplish. . . . Gender-neutral childrearing has the advantage of helping parents and youngsters identify universally desirable human traits and values they would like to adopt and promote. It also might enhance relationships between boys and girls (and men and women). However, keep in mind that boys and girls are sometimes inclined toward different interests and behaviors. If you ignore biological differences, you can deny children the opportunities to build on their innate strengths.
Document D WILLIAM WANTS A DOLL. CAN HE HAVE ONE? Feminists, Child Care Advisors, and Gender-Neutral Child Rearing KARIN A. MARTIN University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Using an analysis of child care books and parenting Web sites, this article asks if second-wave femi- nism s vision of gender-neutral child rearing has been incorporated into contemporary advice on child rearing. The data suggest that while feminist understandings of gender have made significant inroads into popular advice, especially with regard to the social construction of gender, something akin to a stalled revolution has taken place. Children s gender nonconformity is still viewed as problematic because it is linked implicitly and explicitly to homosexuality.
Document E Should the World of Toys Be Gender-Free? By PEGGY ORENSTEIN (New York Times, Dec 29, 2011) Hamleys, which is London s 251-year-old version of F.A.O. Schwarz, recently dismantled its pink girls and blue boys sections in favor of a gender- neutral store with red-and-white signage. Rather than floors dedicated to Barbie dolls and action figures, merchandise is now organized by types. That free-to-be gesture was offset by Lego, whose Friends collection, aimed at girls, will hit stores this month with the goal of becoming a holiday must- have by the fall. Set in fictive Heartlake City (and supported by a $40 million marketing campaign), the line features new, pastel-colored blocks
Document F It s A Boy! Couple Reveal the Sex of Their Gender Neutral Kid After Five Years (Newspaper article: The Sun UK, video) A couple who concealed the sex of their child and raised it as gender neutral for FIVE YEARS have finally revealed - it s a BOY. Beck Laxton, 46, and partner Kieran Cooper, 44, decided not to reveal baby Sasha s gender in the hope it would let its real personality shine through. They referred to it as The Infant and only allowed their child to play with gender-neutral toys in their television-free home. During the first five years of his life, Sasha has alternated between girls and boys outfits, leaving friends, playmates and relatives guessing.
Document G feminist debates: spring 2011 Sign In Home Blog Syllabus Assignments Reading Schedule DE 04/11: Gender-Neutral Parenting
Document H Louann Brizendine. 2007. The Female Brain. London: Bantam Press. One of my patients gave her 3 year old daughter many unisex toys, including a bright red fire truck instead of a doll. She walked into her daughter s room to find her cuddling the truck in a baby blanket, rocking it back and forth saying, Don t worry, little truckie, everything will be all right.
Document I 10 Myths About Gender Neutral Parenting A Blog by Arwyn Arising. Raising My Boychick, 2011.
Classroom Application Students work on parts of performance tasks over time Do I divide class into for and against or have them choose? Do they work in groups or individually? Shall I orchestrate a formal debate? Students do additional research to obtain research Task coincides with reading memoir on gender-neutral parenting experiment
