"MANLY" baby BOY patterns

On one hand, these discussions are what make Craftster fun, but on the other hand, they do tend to get a bit far off topic...

I'll jump in for a minute and then i'm back to knitting cargo pants out of leftover camoflage yarn for the baby boys.

While I do believe in the power of words, and I do believe that we should not push children to avoid certain toys or clothing because it isn't "for" their gender, I don't believe that asking for or referring to a pattern for a baby by a gender specific word is going to imprint any sort of stereotype on the intended recipient.

I wanted "manly" patterns for my nephews. I have lots of baby-ish patterns and while i am aware that they are babies, i thought it would be cool to have mini-versions of big boy clothing for them. I wouldn't ask for "womanly" patterns for my niece because it's not a commonly used term to refer to clothing for little girls, and it infers a physical maturity i don't want associated with a 6 year old. I have seen patterns for all kinds of clothing and accessories we would associate more with women (purses, coats etc) for little girls, and just because the word "womanly" is not applied to them doesn't make them any less "mature" looking or cute or whatever.

Asking for "manly" clothes was not intended to imply that my nephews will never be allowed to be sensitive or caring or that they must go out hunting or be bullies. (there should not be anything read into the camoflage yarn i'm using for the cargo pants. it looks cute. i had the yarn in my stash).

I am proud that, on their own, my nephews and nieces seem to be a blend of all aspects of personality, including things that are not stereotypical for their gender. My oldest nephew asked for, and received, an Easy Bake Oven one Christmas, and the same Christmas he got a hockey stick and gloves. He played with both equally. My younger niece was completely obsessed with dinosaurs and trucks for several years, even while she was equally obsessed with her Barbies.

My friend's twins, a boy and a girl, play together with the same toys. They play differently with their toys. The little boy is ALL boy and the little girl is very "prissy" in some ways. Their parents didn't imprint these attitudes on the kids, they developed them on their own. They're 3.
I grew up with a pink room (not my choice) and was dressed in "girl" clothing but nothing overly frilly or girly-girl. I do not consider myself a "girly" woman, even though I played with dolls and had that pepto-bismal room. I am watching football right now and taking a break from my knitting. I am a blend of traits that are generally stereotyped to one gender or the other. I don't think that being referred to as "girly" as opposed to "womanly" as a child affected me in the slightest.

Really, it will fall to the adults in the lives of these children to not draw focus to the gender stereotypes. Pushing too hard for children to NOT fall into those stereotypes can be just as much of a strain to kids as pushing them to follow those stereotypes. Let them be kids!

Whew. i don't mean to offend anyone or to be argumentative. i really do respect your opinions and this one is mine.

back to football and knitting.