From the article: Gender Differences in Babies and Toddlers
We've gotten past thinking that little girls are all sugar and spice, but most parents and grandparents have observed some general differences between boys and girls. What have you observed about gender differences, and what is your conclusion? Are boys and girls hardwired differently, or are any differences the result of cultural pressures, however subtle? Share Your Opinion
Ms
- If the parents don't want the grandparents in their life then they must live with the hurt they will cause the grandparents. However, I find this situation where the parents don't choose to share the gender strange. I believe God chooses the gender and that is life. It appears to me it will be very confusing to the development of the child and can cause permanent damage.
- —Guest Darlene
Grandma Henke
- I just read about the couple who are keeping their child's gender private. Personally it almost offends me that this couple has decided to throw out all of the traditional ways of child raising because it stifles their child's ability to choose who they ultimately want to become. I can't imagine how much more confusing it would be to not have a "gender" role as a child matures. We did our child raising the old-fashioned way and our children still grew up and made their own decisions as to who they wanted to be. Because my sons had a good role model in their father, they know how to clean, cook, change diapers, and read bedtime stories. Because my girls had me (hopefully good) who worked outside of the home after my children were in school, they know it is okay to do whatever you set your mind to in a female role also. We don't have perfect children and they certainly don't agree with everything we'd hoped they'd agree with, but they are well-adjusted and happy in their marriages and in their role of parents and providers in the home.
- —Guest Edna
Yes, it is inborn
- Gender differences defy political correctness in that it doesn't matter what people may want to believe--boys and girls act differently and are different from birth. Only those who may be confused about the nature of male and female and/or are concerned about their own identity would wish it otherwise.
- —Guest kc31162680
Nature vs Nurture
- There is no doubt in my mind my two boys tackle the world differently than my girls. However, I believe "nurture" can either support or refocus hardwired gender behavior. For example, I have one very rough and tumble boy - at 14 he wants to join the military and get in the action. It has been important to help him redirect his high testosterone ways into socially acceptable expressions of "aggression." My other son is more like Ferdinand the Bull. He loves "fighting" in video games but is otherwise a total peacemaker so takes charge in different ways. Neither of my girls has any interest in fighting or first person shooter games - it does nothing for them. They still have little trouble being assertive and speaking up for themselves, but they take leadership roles with words - not force. I think how we respond to others is both nature and nurture.
- —Guest LAWolfe
It's in the Wiring!
- I'm a mom of daughters and grandmom to boys. I thought I knew all there was to know about parenting until my grandsons came into my life. They're very good boys, don't get me wrong. They are so very active. They play differently than the girls. They don't sit still for one minute like my girls did. I have no clue how boys think. I do believe it's in the wiring!
- —Guest Eve
My two specimens
- My girl is very athletic and my boy is very verbal -- but man, my boy has that little-boy daredevil tendency too! Since we don't live in a lab environment, it's so hard to know what influences have the most effect. Having a boy and a girl is fun because they can try out each other's toys and games.
- —Guest catherine
