so when we find out that someone is having a baby what is the very first
having a baby what is the very first
having a baby what is the very first question we ask boy or girl
question we ask boy or girl
question we ask boy or girl and it’s this knowledge of the sex of a
and it’s this knowledge of the sex of a
and it’s this knowledge of the sex of a baby pre-birth that will set a child on
baby pre-birth that will set a child on
baby pre-birth that will set a child on a specific gender path a gender path
a specific gender path a gender path
a specific gender path a gender path that will determine so much of how their
that will determine so much of how their
that will determine so much of how their lives unfold we’re all conditioned to
lives unfold we’re all conditioned to
lives unfold we’re all conditioned to seeing the world through this lens pink
seeing the world through this lens pink
seeing the world through this lens pink blue girl boy often it takes something
blue girl boy often it takes something
blue girl boy often it takes something unusual for us to change our perception
unusual for us to change our perception
unusual for us to change our perception in 2005 I had my one and only child and
in 2005 I had my one and only child and
in 2005 I had my one and only child and at 16 weeks I did my husband and I found
at 16 weeks I did my husband and I found
at 16 weeks I did my husband and I found out the sex and we were thrilled to
out the sex and we were thrilled to
out the sex and we were thrilled to learn that we were having a girl of
learn that we were having a girl of
learn that we were having a girl of course we would have been absolutely
course we would have been absolutely
course we would have been absolutely fine either way
fine either way
fine either way weight or girl but somehow being a woman
weight or girl but somehow being a woman
weight or girl but somehow being a woman myself I felt more comfortable with the
myself I felt more comfortable with the
myself I felt more comfortable with the idea that I was having a girl I thought
idea that I was having a girl I thought
idea that I was having a girl I thought I’ll be able to relate to her she’ll be
I’ll be able to relate to her she’ll be
I’ll be able to relate to her she’ll be able to relate to me well from the time
able to relate to me well from the time
able to relate to me well from the time that my daughter Gabby could walk and
that my daughter Gabby could walk and
that my daughter Gabby could walk and talk she did not subscribe to any
talk she did not subscribe to any
talk she did not subscribe to any preconceived ideas of girliness in fact
preconceived ideas of girliness in fact
preconceived ideas of girliness in fact she didn’t want to be anything like me
she didn’t want to be anything like me
she didn’t want to be anything like me she wanted to be more like my husband
she wanted to be more like my husband
she wanted to be more like my husband and my husband is a carpenter and so
and my husband is a carpenter and so
and my husband is a carpenter and so when Gabby was really little
when Gabby was really little
when Gabby was really little she asked for a real tool belt she had
she asked for a real tool belt she had
she asked for a real tool belt she had to have had to be a real one it couldn’t
to have had to be a real one it couldn’t
to have had to be a real one it couldn’t have been a toy one when she would wake
have been a toy one when she would wake
have been a toy one when she would wake up in the morning to go to pre-k she
up in the morning to go to pre-k she
up in the morning to go to pre-k she would say what’s daddy wearing because
would say what’s daddy wearing because
would say what’s daddy wearing because she wanted to dress exactly like him so
she wanted to dress exactly like him so
she wanted to dress exactly like him so invariably when we would go shopping
invariably when we would go shopping
invariably when we would go shopping there was nothing she liked in girls
there was nothing she liked in girls
there was nothing she liked in girls departments and so instead we would
departments and so instead we would
departments and so instead we would wander through the boy aisles looking
wander through the boy aisles looking
wander through the boy aisles looking for everything from clothing to toys so
for everything from clothing to toys so
for everything from clothing to toys so girls t-shirts typically consisted of
girls t-shirts typically consisted of
girls t-shirts typically consisted of pastel colors with images of things like
pastel colors with images of things like
pastel colors with images of things like butterflies and cupcakes while boys got
butterflies and cupcakes while boys got
butterflies and cupcakes while boys got the primary colors with images of things
the primary colors with images of things
the primary colors with images of things like sports graphics for dinosaurs or
like sports graphics for dinosaurs or
like sports graphics for dinosaurs or rock bands
rock bands
rock bands well Gabby liked superheroes not Barbies
well Gabby liked superheroes not Barbies
well Gabby liked superheroes not Barbies she preferred pirates to princesses
she preferred pirates to princesses
she preferred pirates to princesses often we would get funny looks as we
often we would get funny looks as we
often we would get funny looks as we wandered through the boy islands looking
wandered through the boy islands looking
wandered through the boy islands looking for things like
for things like
for things like Star Wars merchandise and sometimes I
Star Wars merchandise and sometimes I
Star Wars merchandise and sometimes I would hear a mother saying to her
would hear a mother saying to her
would hear a mother saying to her daughter
daughter
daughter oh no honey you can’t go over there and
oh no honey you can’t go over there and
oh no honey you can’t go over there and that’s that’s just for boys or a parent
that’s that’s just for boys or a parent
that’s that’s just for boys or a parent telling their son he wasn’t allowed to
telling their son he wasn’t allowed to
telling their son he wasn’t allowed to look at the dolls because dolls are just
look at the dolls because dolls are just
look at the dolls because dolls are just for girls and my heart would just break
for girls and my heart would just break
for girls and my heart would just break Gabby loved superheroes when she was
Gabby loved superheroes when she was
Gabby loved superheroes when she was three she was spider-man for Halloween
three she was spider-man for Halloween
three she was spider-man for Halloween when she was four she was Batman and
when she was four she was Batman and
when she was four she was Batman and when she was five she was Indiana Jones
when she was five she was Indiana Jones
when she was five she was Indiana Jones she was fiercely strong-willed at the
she was fiercely strong-willed at the
she was fiercely strong-willed at the ripe old age of three as her mother I
ripe old age of three as her mother I
ripe old age of three as her mother I could see that her personal identity was
could see that her personal identity was
could see that her personal identity was tremendously important to her but it was
tremendously important to her but it was
tremendously important to her but it was equally important that my husband and I
equally important that my husband and I
equally important that my husband and I allow her to be whoever she wanted to be
allow her to be whoever she wanted to be
allow her to be whoever she wanted to be but I’ll be honest that’s not always as
but I’ll be honest that’s not always as
but I’ll be honest that’s not always as easy as it sounds right we all say to
easy as it sounds right we all say to
easy as it sounds right we all say to our kids you can be anything you want to
our kids you can be anything you want to
our kids you can be anything you want to be but do we really mean it
be but do we really mean it
be but do we really mean it do we really allow them to make their
do we really allow them to make their
do we really allow them to make their own choices about who they want to be or
own choices about who they want to be or
own choices about who they want to be or do we limit those choices based on
do we limit those choices based on
do we limit those choices based on whether they are a girl or a boy so when
whether they are a girl or a boy so when
whether they are a girl or a boy so when Gabby was seven she asked for a buzz cut
Gabby was seven she asked for a buzz cut
Gabby was seven she asked for a buzz cut and she already had short hair and one
and she already had short hair and one
and she already had short hair and one day she said to me mom if boys can have
day she said to me mom if boys can have
day she said to me mom if boys can have a buzz cut why can’t girls and there was
a buzz cut why can’t girls and there was
a buzz cut why can’t girls and there was nothing I could say to that she was
nothing I could say to that she was
nothing I could say to that she was absolutely right
absolutely right
absolutely right it was her hair it was her choice I did
it was her hair it was her choice I did
it was her hair it was her choice I did say to her Gabby if you buzz your hair I
say to her Gabby if you buzz your hair I
say to her Gabby if you buzz your hair I just want you to know people might look
just want you to know people might look
just want you to know people might look at you funny kids can be mean
at you funny kids can be mean
at you funny kids can be mean they might say things to you are you
they might say things to you are you
they might say things to you are you okay with that she told me she was fine
okay with that she told me she was fine
okay with that she told me she was fine with it so off we went to the
with it so off we went to the
with it so off we went to the hairdresser buzzed her hair off she
hairdresser buzzed her hair off she
hairdresser buzzed her hair off she looked adorable she was all smiles she
looked adorable she was all smiles she
looked adorable she was all smiles she could not have been happier
could not have been happier
could not have been happier and I knew right at that moment that
and I knew right at that moment that
and I knew right at that moment that allowing her to walk out into the world
allowing her to walk out into the world
allowing her to walk out into the world how she wanted to walk out into the
how she wanted to walk out into the
how she wanted to walk out into the world was what mattered
world was what mattered
world was what mattered not instilling my vision or society’s
not instilling my vision or society’s
not instilling my vision or society’s vision of who she should be but by
vision of who she should be but by
vision of who she should be but by allowing her to be true to her truest
allowing her to be true to her truest
allowing her to be true to her truest self shortly after she got her buzz cut
self shortly after she got her buzz cut
self shortly after she got her buzz cut we were at a local community pool that
we were at a local community pool that
we were at a local community pool that we belong to and a woman I had been
we belong to and a woman I had been
we belong to and a woman I had been introduced to had a couple kids running
introduced to had a couple kids running
introduced to had a couple kids running around came up to me and said is that
around came up to me and said is that
around came up to me and said is that your daughter running around with the
your daughter running around with the
your daughter running around with the buzzcut and the board shorts
buzzcut and the board shorts
buzzcut and the board shorts and I told her it was and she said III
and I told her it was and she said III
and I told her it was and she said III think it’s great that you let her cut
think it’s great that you let her cut
think it’s great that you let her cut her hair like that and then she
her hair like that and then she
her hair like that and then she proceeded to tell me a story about when
proceeded to tell me a story about when
proceeded to tell me a story about when she was a little girl she had two
she was a little girl she had two
she was a little girl she had two brothers and she dressed just like them
brothers and she dressed just like them
brothers and she dressed just like them she played with them and she loved being
she played with them and she loved being
she played with them and she loved being like them she said the first day of
like them she said the first day of
like them she said the first day of school came around and her mother she
school came around and her mother she
school came around and her mother she dressed like her brothers and her mother
dressed like her brothers and her mother
dressed like her brothers and her mother made her change into what she said was a
made her change into what she said was a
made her change into what she said was a stiff lacy
stiff lacy
stiff lacy dress and she looked at me really sadly
dress and she looked at me really sadly
dress and she looked at me really sadly and she said I can still feel that lace
and she said I can still feel that lace
and she said I can still feel that lace scratching on my skin it just made me
scratching on my skin it just made me
scratching on my skin it just made me realize the tremendous impact we have as
realize the tremendous impact we have as
realize the tremendous impact we have as parents on our kids so the idea that all
parents on our kids so the idea that all
parents on our kids so the idea that all girls want to be princess or are somehow
girls want to be princess or are somehow
girls want to be princess or are somehow hardwired to all things pink was a myth
hardwired to all things pink was a myth
hardwired to all things pink was a myth it was being proven wrong right in front
it was being proven wrong right in front
it was being proven wrong right in front of my eyes I started to do some research
of my eyes I started to do some research
of my eyes I started to do some research and I discovered lo and behold that pink
and I discovered lo and behold that pink
and I discovered lo and behold that pink was not always a girl’s color according
was not always a girl’s color according
was not always a girl’s color according to a great article in Smithsonian
to a great article in Smithsonian
to a great article in Smithsonian magazine called when did girls start
magazine called when did girls start
magazine called when did girls start wearing pink and actually in the late
wearing pink and actually in the late
wearing pink and actually in the late 19th century blue was seen as a more
19th century blue was seen as a more
19th century blue was seen as a more feminine color and more girls wore it
feminine color and more girls wore it
feminine color and more girls wore it and pink was seen as a variation of red
and pink was seen as a variation of red
and pink was seen as a variation of red which was more masculine it actually
which was more masculine it actually
which was more masculine it actually wasn’t until the 1940s when companies
wasn’t until the 1940s when companies
wasn’t until the 1940s when companies began to get a hold of color and use it
began to get a hold of color and use it
began to get a hold of color and use it in that way by gender and it actually
in that way by gender and it actually
in that way by gender and it actually exploded in the late 90s early 2000s
exploded in the late 90s early 2000s
exploded in the late 90s early 2000s when pink and princess became even
when pink and princess became even
when pink and princess became even bigger for girls and now companies like
bigger for girls and now companies like
bigger for girls and now companies like Disney inundate girls especially with
Disney inundate girls especially with
Disney inundate girls especially with all things pink and princess from birth
all things pink and princess from birth
all things pink and princess from birth it’s a five billion dollar industry for
it’s a five billion dollar industry for
it’s a five billion dollar industry for them so we did take a beat to Disney
them so we did take a beat to Disney
them so we did take a beat to Disney World when she was little
World when she was little
World when she was little and she she had her short hair and her
and she she had her short hair and her
and she she had her short hair and her shorts and we walked up to the hotel
shorts and we walked up to the hotel
shorts and we walked up to the hotel counter at Disney World and the woman
counter at Disney World and the woman
counter at Disney World and the woman behind the counter was lovely and she
behind the counter was lovely and she
behind the counter was lovely and she looked over at Gabby and she looked at
looked over at Gabby and she looked at
looked over at Gabby and she looked at me and she said oh and is this your
me and she said oh and is this your
me and she said oh and is this your little prince and I said no and she’s
little prince and I said no and she’s
little prince and I said no and she’s not a princess either and the woman
not a princess either and the woman
not a princess either and the woman looked really confused she didn’t know
looked really confused she didn’t know
looked really confused she didn’t know what to do with that shouldn’t there be
what to do with that shouldn’t there be
what to do with that shouldn’t there be a lot more options between Prince and
a lot more options between Prince and
a lot more options between Prince and Princess John F Kennedy said conformity
Princess John F Kennedy said conformity
Princess John F Kennedy said conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy
is the jailer of freedom and the enemy
is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth conformity leads to
of growth conformity leads to
of growth conformity leads to stereotypes stereotypes lead to
stereotypes stereotypes lead to
stereotypes stereotypes lead to limitations and yet we as a society
limitations and yet we as a society
limitations and yet we as a society punish those who are different and who
punish those who are different and who
punish those who are different and who don’t conform right it seems we’ve lost
don’t conform right it seems we’ve lost
don’t conform right it seems we’ve lost that in-between this to allow children
that in-between this to allow children
that in-between this to allow children the space to explore their own unique
the space to explore their own unique
the space to explore their own unique identities we see this intolerance in
identities we see this intolerance in
identities we see this intolerance in the media incessant ly right a girl who
the media incessant ly right a girl who
the media incessant ly right a girl who cuts her hair short or wears boy
cuts her hair short or wears boy
cuts her hair short or wears boy clothing or likes things like Star Wars
clothing or likes things like Star Wars
clothing or likes things like Star Wars or a little boy who paints his nails
or a little boy who paints his nails
or a little boy who paints his nails wants to wear the color pink or grows
wants to wear the color pink or grows
wants to wear the color pink or grows his hair long are all victims of intense
his hair long are all victims of intense
his hair long are all victims of intense media scrutiny right socially these kids
media scrutiny right socially these kids
media scrutiny right socially these kids can experience bullying or sometimes
can experience bullying or sometimes
can experience bullying or sometimes it’s actually the opposite sometimes
it’s actually the opposite sometimes
it’s actually the opposite sometimes kids who step outside gender lines are
kids who step outside gender lines are
kids who step outside gender lines are viewed as courageous but I don’t believe
viewed as courageous but I don’t believe
viewed as courageous but I don’t believe that kids should have to be brave to be
that kids should have to be brave to be
that kids should have to be brave to be who they are but as parents we have to
who they are but as parents we have to
who they are but as parents we have to be because kids are bombarded every
be because kids are bombarded every
be because kids are bombarded every single day with images product and
single day with images product and
single day with images product and advertising and language that look to
advertising and language that look to
advertising and language that look to trap them and put them in boxes take a
trap them and put them in boxes take a
trap them and put them in boxes take a look at these two magazine covers of
look at these two magazine covers of
look at these two magazine covers of girls life and boys life magazines these
girls life and boys life magazines these
girls life and boys life magazines these were this picture of these two magazines
were this picture of these two magazines
were this picture of these two magazines side-by-side were taken in a library
side-by-side were taken in a library
side-by-side were taken in a library last year
last year
last year and while they’re not published by the
and while they’re not published by the
and while they’re not published by the same company they highlight some very
same company they highlight some very
same company they highlight some very real and disturbing differences and how
real and disturbing differences and how
real and disturbing differences and how we view girls and boys and what each is
we view girls and boys and what each is
we view girls and boys and what each is exposed to so for girls it’s all about
exposed to so for girls it’s all about
exposed to so for girls it’s all about fashion and how we look how to wake up
fashion and how we look how to wake up
fashion and how we look how to wake up pretty or your dream hair for boys it’s
pretty or your dream hair for boys it’s
pretty or your dream hair for boys it’s all about action and doing explore your
all about action and doing explore your
all about action and doing explore your future astronaut artist firefighter chef
future astronaut artist firefighter chef
future astronaut artist firefighter chef here’s how to be what you want to be
here’s how to be what you want to be
here’s how to be what you want to be when I saw these two magazine covers my
when I saw these two magazine covers my
when I saw these two magazine covers my head just about exploded and though I
head just about exploded and though I
head just about exploded and though I was really angry I wasn’t shocked I’d
was really angry I wasn’t shocked I’d
was really angry I wasn’t shocked I’d already seen books that taught girls how
already seen books that taught girls how
already seen books that taught girls how to be more gorgeous and fabulous and
to be more gorgeous and fabulous and
to be more gorgeous and fabulous and boys how to be clever and smarter years
boys how to be clever and smarter years
boys how to be clever and smarter years ago I wrote a blog post about these two
ago I wrote a blog post about these two
ago I wrote a blog post about these two rattles one is for girls and one is for
rattles one is for girls and one is for
rattles one is for girls and one is for boys I’m sure you can tell the
boys I’m sure you can tell the
boys I’m sure you can tell the difference the one for girls said says
difference the one for girls said says
difference the one for girls said says for a sweet baby girl it’s pink and
for a sweet baby girl it’s pink and
for a sweet baby girl it’s pink and purple it’s in the shape of a diamond
purple it’s in the shape of a diamond
purple it’s in the shape of a diamond ring and the one for boy says for a busy
ring and the one for boy says for a busy
ring and the one for boy says for a busy baby boy it’s blue and yellow it’s in
baby boy it’s blue and yellow it’s in
baby boy it’s blue and yellow it’s in the shape of a hammer because eventually
the shape of a hammer because eventually
the shape of a hammer because eventually boys will learn that they have to do the
boys will learn that they have to do the
boys will learn that they have to do the hard work so they can afford to put that
hard work so they can afford to put that
hard work so they can afford to put that diamond ring on a girl’s finger
it’s the truth but I ask you why do
it’s the truth but I ask you why do rattles need to be gendered right it may
rattles need to be gendered right it may
rattles need to be gendered right it may seem innocuous right you may be sitting
seem innocuous right you may be sitting
seem innocuous right you may be sitting there thinking they’re just babies you
there thinking they’re just babies you
there thinking they’re just babies you buy them they don’t know what they’re
buy them they don’t know what they’re
buy them they don’t know what they’re looking at but these the reality is that
looking at but these the reality is that
looking at but these the reality is that these stereotypes set in and attach
these stereotypes set in and attach
these stereotypes set in and attach themselves like a second skin that will
themselves like a second skin that will
themselves like a second skin that will follow a child all the way through
follow a child all the way through
follow a child all the way through adulthood rattles are just the beginning
adulthood rattles are just the beginning
adulthood rattles are just the beginning of an endless stream of images they will
of an endless stream of images they will
of an endless stream of images they will be exposed to dr. Lisa Elliot is author
be exposed to dr. Lisa Elliot is author
be exposed to dr. Lisa Elliot is author of a wonderful book called pink brain
of a wonderful book called pink brain
of a wonderful book called pink brain blue brain she says quote gender is the
blue brain she says quote gender is the
blue brain she says quote gender is the first most obvious and most significant
first most obvious and most significant
first most obvious and most significant attribute each of us shows the world and
attribute each of us shows the world and
attribute each of us shows the world and infants understand much more about
infants understand much more about
infants understand much more about gender than we ever used to give them
gender than we ever used to give them
gender than we ever used to give them credit for end quote
credit for end quote
credit for end quote we put bows on female babies heads don’t
we put bows on female babies heads don’t
we put bows on female babies heads don’t have no hair so they’ll immediately be
have no hair so they’ll immediately be
have no hair so they’ll immediately be identified as girls and little baby boys
identified as girls and little baby boys
identified as girls and little baby boys might wear but onesie that says little
might wear but onesie that says little
might wear but onesie that says little man I grew up in the 70s and 80s when
man I grew up in the 70s and 80s when
man I grew up in the 70s and 80s when product and advertising especially for
product and advertising especially for
product and advertising especially for kids reflected a kind of freedom for
kids reflected a kind of freedom for
kids reflected a kind of freedom for there for them to be able to explore if
there for them to be able to explore if
there for them to be able to explore if you see these ads these are Lego ads
you see these ads these are Lego ads
you see these ads these are Lego ads actually from the early 80s you can see
actually from the early 80s you can see
actually from the early 80s you can see there’s not a lot of pink kids aren’t
there’s not a lot of pink kids aren’t
there’s not a lot of pink kids aren’t separated boy and girl in the same ad
separated boy and girl in the same ad
separated boy and girl in the same ad playing with the same toy a little girl
playing with the same toy a little girl
playing with the same toy a little girl in blue jeans with a blue shirt the text
in blue jeans with a blue shirt the text
in blue jeans with a blue shirt the text addresses them as children not as boy
addresses them as children not as boy
addresses them as children not as boy and girl you’d be hard-pressed to find
and girl you’d be hard-pressed to find
and girl you’d be hard-pressed to find ads like this today
ads like this today
ads like this today now Lego makes what’s called LEGO
now Lego makes what’s called LEGO
now Lego makes what’s called LEGO Friends it’s a separate line of building
Friends it’s a separate line of building
Friends it’s a separate line of building toys just for girls and I can tell you
toys just for girls and I can tell you
toys just for girls and I can tell you that separate is not equal here there’s
that separate is not equal here there’s
that separate is not equal here there’s quite a difference
quite a difference
quite a difference so I grew up with two brothers right
so I grew up with two brothers right
so I grew up with two brothers right here in North Utica we all had one big
here in North Utica we all had one big
here in North Utica we all had one big wheel it was red yellow and blue I think
wheel it was red yellow and blue I think
wheel it was red yellow and blue I think probably many of you will remember it
probably many of you will remember it
probably many of you will remember it but now they make one for girls as well
but now they make one for girls as well
but now they make one for girls as well so basically companies convince parents
so basically companies convince parents
so basically companies convince parents and kids right that girls need to have a
and kids right that girls need to have a
and kids right that girls need to have a pink version of everything while boys
pink version of everything while boys
pink version of everything while boys are not allowed to like the color pink
are not allowed to like the color pink
are not allowed to like the color pink and wall out they have twice the profit
and wall out they have twice the profit
and wall out they have twice the profit we all buy into this notion even as
we all buy into this notion even as
we all buy into this notion even as adults I don’t know if you saw that bik
adults I don’t know if you saw that bik
adults I don’t know if you saw that bik makes pens for women they’re pink and
makes pens for women they’re pink and
makes pens for women they’re pink and they have some kind of special grip
they have some kind of special grip
they have some kind of special grip because we have special hands I guess
because we have special hands I guess
because we have special hands I guess truth be told though things are
truth be told though things are
truth be told though things are beginning to shift and and I noticed
beginning to shift and and I noticed
beginning to shift and and I noticed this all the time it’s not enough but
this all the time it’s not enough but
this all the time it’s not enough but things are beginning to shift for
things are beginning to shift for
things are beginning to shift for instance in 2015 the huge retail giant
instance in 2015 the huge retail giant
instance in 2015 the huge retail giant target actually announced they were
target actually announced they were
target actually announced they were going to be removing their gender
going to be removing their gender
going to be removing their gender identify errs from their toy aisles and
identify errs from their toy aisles and
identify errs from their toy aisles and and believe it or not this was seen as
and believe it or not this was seen as
and believe it or not this was seen as huge news so basically it wasn’t gonna
huge news so basically it wasn’t gonna
huge news so basically it wasn’t gonna say girls building toys anymore and boys
say girls building toys anymore and boys
say girls building toys anymore and boys building toys it was just going to say
building toys it was just going to say
building toys it was just going to say building toys and the move was met with
building toys and the move was met with
building toys and the move was met with some hearty approval but also some very
some hearty approval but also some very
some hearty approval but also some very heavy disapproval as some wondered why
heavy disapproval as some wondered why
heavy disapproval as some wondered why was target making it harder for them to
was target making it harder for them to
was target making it harder for them to find stuff for their kids and why
find stuff for their kids and why
find stuff for their kids and why couldn’t target just let girls be girls
couldn’t target just let girls be girls
couldn’t target just let girls be girls and boys be boys but more and more we do
and boys be boys but more and more we do
and boys be boys but more and more we do see the idea of gender nonconformity
see the idea of gender nonconformity
see the idea of gender nonconformity being rewarded and appreciated indeed
being rewarded and appreciated indeed
being rewarded and appreciated indeed time takes time takes persistence hard
time takes time takes persistence hard
time takes time takes persistence hard work so my daughter is now 12 and she is
work so my daughter is now 12 and she is
work so my daughter is now 12 and she is in seventh grade and she plays baseball
in seventh grade and she plays baseball
in seventh grade and she plays baseball she does not play softball and she
she does not play softball and she
she does not play softball and she doesn’t want to play softball she’s been
doesn’t want to play softball she’s been
doesn’t want to play softball she’s been playing since she was 4 she is a really
playing since she was 4 she is a really
playing since she was 4 she is a really good player she puts in the hard work
good player she puts in the hard work
good player she puts in the hard work she’s on a middle-school team and she’s
she’s on a middle-school team and she’s
she’s on a middle-school team and she’s on her local travel team as the only
on her local travel team as the only
on her local travel team as the only girl do I know how far she’s going to go
girl do I know how far she’s going to go
girl do I know how far she’s going to go no am I gonna tell her that she can’t
no am I gonna tell her that she can’t
no am I gonna tell her that she can’t keep playing no I see her and children
keep playing no I see her and children
keep playing no I see her and children like her as a natural-born leader
like her as a natural-born leader
like her as a natural-born leader someone who is breaking down barriers
someone who is breaking down barriers
someone who is breaking down barriers without even knowing that she’s doing it
without even knowing that she’s doing it
without even knowing that she’s doing it just by going out into the world as she
just by going out into the world as she
just by going out into the world as she is don’t we need and
is don’t we need and
is don’t we need and more kids like this so I asked you what
more kids like this so I asked you what
more kids like this so I asked you what would happen if we didn’t place limits
would happen if we didn’t place limits
would happen if we didn’t place limits on children based on their gender
on children based on their gender
on children based on their gender wouldn’t it be amazing to say to our
wouldn’t it be amazing to say to our
wouldn’t it be amazing to say to our kids you can be anything you want to be
kids you can be anything you want to be
kids you can be anything you want to be and mean it this is what we can teach
and mean it this is what we can teach
and mean it this is what we can teach our kids not to let arbitraries
our kids not to let arbitraries
our kids not to let arbitraries arbitrary boundaries limit them we have
arbitrary boundaries limit them we have
arbitrary boundaries limit them we have the capability as parents to open up
the capability as parents to open up
the capability as parents to open up their worlds so that they truly have
their worlds so that they truly have
their worlds so that they truly have endless opportunities from which to
endless opportunities from which to
endless opportunities from which to choose and isn’t that what we all want
choose and isn’t that what we all want
choose and isn’t that what we all want for our kids thank you
for our kids thank you
for our kids thank you [Applause]
”
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