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Originally Posted by Peanut
There's research (or, videos explaining research) that show toddlers really young start to be aware of genderized differences. I should go back and find the video but I want to say it might have been as young as 18-24 months? The girls start recognizing the pink, "feminine" things are for them, and the boys recognize mostly that pink isn't for them. Maybe they're more prone to blues and greens and stuff.
Anyways. I've learned a lot over the years but my first daughter was buried in an avalanche of pink. I try to be more gender neutral now.
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I seem to notice this becoming more and more prevalent as time goes on. I'm in my 30s, and I don't recall nearly so many distinctly gendered products for children back then. Yeah, boys had action figures and girls had dolls, but it felt like there was a wide array of gender-less entertainment available when I was younger. Now it feels like absolutely everything has to be either pink or blue. Like we're now hyper aware of gender norms. And not just for children's toys--like why are there specific pens that are marketed to women? We all have hands. They aren't different enough to warrant different pens.
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Originally Posted by Minnie
Funnily enough (or not really), the place I dealt with the least amount of, or should I say don't ever feel as though I experienced harassment, was working in a corporate environment (financial management company/RPFL). I was always treated with respect there.
As for assault, that happened at 6 (traveling "evangelist") and 11(uncle). Attempts at groping happened continuously with another uncle throughout my life, though typically I've been able to avoid him.
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Ahh, the good old "evangelist" types. Grew up a Jehovah's Witness, only to discover that the religion as a whole has a massive problem with keeping child sexual abuse private (as well as other abuses, but that's another discussion) and out of the hands of authorities. It goes back to the power imbalance issue, which is heightened in many religions. Assault and abuse are huge problems in many religions.
I grew up being taught that only boys could be ministers, only boys could have positions of responsibility in the church, only boys were given privileges because girls are "weaker vessels." That messes with your head in a whole different way than being given pink toys does. It's taken years to break that subconscious train of thought.
I'm one of the incredibly fortunate women who doesn't have to add "me too," but the vast number of my friends and family are on that list. It's refreshing to see an open and respectful discussion about this. I have to give almost all members in this thread a huge thumbs-up for their handling of the topics at hand.