ellen@ucla-cs.UUCP (04/04/85)
Frankly, i thought attitudes like those went out with the Dark Ages,
but it appears that some people are still not living in the '80's.
I AM CARRYING ON MY FAMILY NAME. who needs A BOY to do that?
my daughter has my name & her father's name (when she has kids,
IF she decides to have kids, naming them is up to her). what's
the big deal about the NAME. isn't it your HERITAGE that's more
important to carry on? your knowledge & love? ANYONE can change
their name. male movie stars do it. is that of PRIMARY concern?
as for playing catch, A GIRL CAN PLAY CATCH TOO. my dad used to take
me fishing (usually deep-sea). my brother spent all the time down
in the cabin being sea-sick. i loved to fish. i went to baseball games
with my dad. my brother couldn't sit still long enought to really
enjoy them.
as for PROTECTION, A GIRL NEEDS TO KNOW HOW TO PROTECT HERSELF.
her brother won't be there when she's old enough to be off somewhere
on her own, when she might be attacked or molested. WHAT GOOD DOES
HAVING AN OLDER BROTHER DO?
and what kind of expectation do you have for your son? can't he
be the person he is, without having to live up to YOUR expectations?
suppose he is blessed with a terrific ear for music, and would rather
spend his free time playing an instrument? will you encourage that,
or would you rather he was on the football team, and pressure him
into trying to be someone he isn't? what if he's interested in
pressing flowers (a budding scientist, a botanist, perhaps?)
will you tell him he's a sissy because he isn't beating up on other
boys who call his sister names? doesn't SHE have strength & courage
& guts & fortitude?
read "Growing Up Free - Raising Your Child in the '80's" by
Letty Cottin Pogrebin, so you can have children who are whole
people, rather than out-dated stereotypes.
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