He nodded as if he already knew, then added: What a little flirt!
Ten weeks into motherhood, Im keenly aware that a newborn is catnip to strangers of all ages.
Is it a boy or a girl?
the man asked of my bald, toothless child.
Without a doubt, the man was well-intentioned.
Still, the interaction didnt sit well.
Also weird: that he felt compelled to confirm my babys sex before issuing his compliment.
If Id answered boy, would he have followed up with a different remark?
Perhaps commented on how strong or capable the baby looked?
What a little powerhouse entrepreneur in the making!, I can hear the man saying.
A study published in the journalSex Rolesfound that by age 2.5, children start to internalize gender-based prejudices.
And its not just what strangers say in passing that counts.
Meanwhile, 46 percent of toys for boys, like chemistry sets and sports equipment, emphasize activities.
Smile politely and let it slide?
Or, asBloomsuggests, conjure a clever retort?
I think shes more of an astronaut than a flirt.
Check back in 20 years and Ill let you know!
It seems virtually impossible to control what my daughter absorbs from the outside world.
But thats when it occurs to me just how important it is to monitor her environment at home.
since the day she was born.
Babiesgirls and boys alikeare, of course, adorable.
Mother Nature makes them that way so you feed them rather than eat them, essentially.
That said, I can see how focusing too much on a childs appearance might be detrimental longterm.
And its the cultural norm to do so, especially in the case of little girls.
For 48 hours, I challenged myself to avoid making any remarks about my daughters appearance.
Over the next couple days, I bite my tongue countless times before making the same mistake.
When my baby stuffs her fist in her mouth and squeals, I stumble in search of alternate praise.
What am I supposed to say?
Youre so creative!?!?
It may be impossible to shelter our daughters from damaging, deeply ingrained cultural norms.
