From the moment a child is born, the people who meet that child will try to pin down what gender they are.
Pink means girl and blue means boy. Boys are supposed to play with cars while girls are supposed to play with dolls. But why does our society enforce these stereotypes? As we saw with the recent Bruce Jenner interview, just because someone has the physical traits of a male or female does not mean they identify with that gender.
There are probably dozens of MSU students who can directly relate to Jenner’s message.
Policing behaviors surround conversation as soon as they learn to talk. Phrases like “you play like a girl” for males or “be lady-like” for girls can be harmful in the development of a child.
Individual expression is a choice, and when an impressionable child is told how to act and is bullied into believing they are abnormal, that will change who that child grows up to be.
Gender policing does nothing but harm child development and self-esteem. Unfortunately, these behaviors become a set of rules, and the victim ends up becoming the police for other kids.
Growing up, I faced a lot of gender policing behaviors because I believed girls could do anything boys could and it was OK for us to like mutual things.
My parents did not escape the societal pressure from others, but they did let me do whatever and like whatever I wanted, regardless of gender norms.
I played hockey, was Peter Pan for Halloween and obsessed over Disney’s “Toy Story.” A kid should be allowed to be a kid.
If a boy wants to wear a dress, he should get to. It’s part of finding out who you are.
Adolescence is a confusing time for anyone, but to have to constantly hear these harsh policing behaviors throughout puberty can cripple emotional growth among these kids.
I can only imagine how destructive these behaviors can be toward LGBTQ kids trying to understand their own gender.
Policing youth with assigned gender norms is the wrong way to handle a person’s growth. These kids should be supported in safe places and be reassured that they can be whoever they are comfortable with being.
