Why Do We Teach Girls That It’s Cute to Be Scared?-NYT

[robfilms]

VERY interesting short piece in the New York Times.

As the Dad of daughters, I thought well worth the read.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/21/opinio...Reward=CTM&moduleDetail=recommendations-1&action=click&contentCollection=N.Y.%20%2F%20Region®ion=Footer&module=WhatsNext&version=WhatsNext&contentID=WhatsNext&src=recg&pgtype=article

Be well.

Rob

[cbelt3]

A good read. The only thing anyone needs to fear is, of course, fear itself.


Ed: I'm reminded of the time my then 16 year old daughter sat me down and had me promise not to get mad. And then told me that her boyfriend had slapped her. And when I asked her what she did, she simply said:

"I kicked him in the nuts, and when he hit the floor I kicked him in the stomach a few more times. Then I broke up with him while he was throwing up. And I walked home."

I smiled, hugged her, and said "Perfect".

Raise your kids to be fearless and not take crap from anyone. If I can do it, anyone can do it.

[Black]

cbelt3 wrote:
A good read. The only thing anyone needs to fear is, of course, fear itself.

And getting hit by a car.

[michaelb]

There isn't really anything in the article about it being "cute" or that anyone is teaching that. There are lots of problems with the concept of being cute and this is only a small part of that.

And certainly what is modeled in pop culture undercuts this. Mulan is not scared. Hermoine is not scared. Katniss may or may not be scared but she had good reason to be and acted bravely anyway. That seems like much more the dominant theme for young adults.

To me the broader issue is whether parents are raising their children, boys and girls, to be afraid of the world; taking risks and getting hurt and playing through that is part of life.

[what4]

If you have daughters, raise them to see, and not to be seen.

[Racer X]

michaelb wrote:

To me the broader issue is whether parents are raising their children, boys and girls, to be afraid of the world; taking risks and getting hurt and playing through that is part of life.

I agree completely! We are raising a generation of children who are afraid. Far too many parents are themselves afraid of life, and have passed that on to their kids. As a result, I see lots of teenagers and young adults lacking day to day life skills, because they were never allowed to learn them, or explore them. Male and female.

[archipirata]

My wife still has self confidence issues instilled by her mother. She and her sister were taught to be afraid of everything. They weren't allowed to go swimming as kids because "you could drown if you go in the water." They weren't allowed on the monkey bars because "that's how you get a broken arm." To this day, her mother refuses to have a candle in her house because she heard once that a candle burned down a house.

I'm glad for all of the freedom I had as a kid, all of the stitches and burned fingers taught me a lot of important lessons and also let me develop me own better understanding of the world around me.

Ignorance=Fear

[3d]

michaelb wrote:
There isn't really anything in the article about it being "cute" or that anyone is teaching that.

Good read which raises interesting points. No need for the misleading click-bait headline. I think the author feels strongly about the issue and she resorted to a click-bait headline to help it get seen and read.

[jdc]

Some men find it attractive -- in a "shes vunderable and I want to take care of her" sense -- and some women do it to find a man "who is strong and will take care of me"

Daddys little girl.

Dads "protect" their girls from things. Cyclical.

[rgG]

what4 wrote:
If you have daughters, raise them to see, and not to be seen.

My daughter was raised to see and ALSO be seen.

She is a strong willed, independent woman, and she looks damn good while doing it. You go girl!