Today while getting dressed, Thomas told me that he couldn't wear a certain pair of underwear if he wanted to play with a neighbor boy this afternoon.
These underwear.
Because, the boy thinks Thomas is a girl for wearing pink underwear.
(My first concern was that Thomas was flashing his underwear while playing. Turns out they peaked out of his pants one time when he pulled up his shirt to scratch his belly.)
My 5 year old was teased by a peer for wearing pink underwear.
And this broke.my.heart.
I asked Thomas if he liked the underwear. He chuckled and said he did. I then asked if they made him happy. He told me they did. I then asked if they made him a girl. Thomas laughed and said no.
I told Thomas that if they make him happy, he should wear whatever he likes. That he should not avoid wearing things he likes just because another person says mean things.
Folks, THIS is why I started the Boys Can Wear Pink series last year. Any child, any PERSON, should be able to wear whatever they like! This is NOT about boys wearing the color pink. This is about acceptance. About not stereotyping things! Colors, flowers, rainbows, polkadots, glitter, super heroes, NONE of these things have a gender! One's gender is determined by his/her DNA NOT by the things he/she wears!!
Wear what makes you happy. Allow your children to do the same. If we as society don't start breaking down gender roles and stereotypes, who will?
Boys CAN Wear Pink will be taking place again this year. You can follow along here, February 22-27. Please, help create the change this world needs by sewing along and sharing your creations on Facebook and Instagram with #boyscanwearpink and #BCWP.
This makes me so sad! I have three nieces and they told John a few months ago he couldn't ask for a doll for Christmas (like they were) because those are girl toys. Fortunately I was right there and nipped it in the bud. I can't believe that there is so much gender-equality for girls and not for boys! I'm so glad I know people like you who want to fix it and are doing something about it! <3
ReplyDeletepoor little guy. We recently had a exclusion issue as well. my 5yr old has regular playdates with a friend - but didnt get to her birthday party because (as the mom texted me) "my daughter feels like your daughter doesnt do her share of tidying after playdates"
ReplyDeleteIt hurts so much when our kids gets their hearts broken. and it kills me that this starts at 5yrs old already.
Tell Thomas pink is a wonderful colour and until the 1940's it was considered a strong manly colour ... "For example, a June 1918 article from the trade publication Earnshaw's Infants' Department said, “The generally accepted rule is pink for the boys, and blue for the girls. The reason is that pink, being a more decided and stronger color, is more suitable for the boy, while blue, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl.” Other sources said blue was flattering for blonds, pink for brunettes; or blue was for blue-eyed babies, pink for brown-eyed babies, according to Paoletti.
In 1927, Time magazine printed a chart showing sex-appropriate colors for girls and boys according to leading U.S. stores. In Boston, Filene’s told parents to dress boys in pink. So did Best & Co. in New York City, Halle’s in Cleveland and Marshall Field in Chicago.
Today’s color dictate wasn’t established until the 1940s, as a result of Americans’ preferences as interpreted by manufacturers and retailers. “It could have gone the other way,” Paoletti says." http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/when-did-girls-start-wearing-pink-1370097/?no-ist
Well-handled, though, Mama! That's what I would've done. No one determines my kids' style or happiness but themselves. And booooo to other sassy kids. Hopefully he told his mama and she set him straight! :*
ReplyDelete