Breaking the Gender Roles

Annie Murphy Paul’s “Is Pink Necessary” was an interesting read for me. It concentrated a lot on the fact that “external signs – clothing, hairstyle, favorite color, choice of toys – determine one’s sex.” If this really applied, I would probably have been considered a boy when I was a child.

Growing up, I was never interested in playing dress up, Barbies or baby dolls. Instead, I spent my time outside riding four wheelers with my brother and cousin, 5 days a week on the softball field, and countless hours playing every sport possible in my front yard. I preferred riding bikes and roller blading over tea parties and playing house, and I was more interested in ESPN than Disney movies.

Sometimes, I believe that being a “tomboy” growing up helped me become a much more well rounded individual. By playing sports, I learned many characteristics that have been beneficial in my collegiate years and in both of my internships, and I know that these characteristics will be very beneficial for me in the future as well. I have gained leadership experience, a strong work ethic, responsibility, and strong communication skills.

I believe that allowing young girls and boys to break the gender roles is very important. It does not matter if a boy’s favorite color is pink and his favorite toy is a Barbie, and it doesn’t matter if a girl’s favorite color is blue and she likes to play in the dirt. There is a lot to be learned from possessing characteristics that have been deemed for the “other” sex.