Reading/Discussion Questions for
Pollitt’s Why Boys Don’t Play With
Dolls (555-557) and
Fallows’ “Throwing Like a
Girl” (400-406)
Answer TWO of the following...
1.
At the end of the essay, Pollitt writes,
“Feminsits are often accused of imposing their “agenda” on children.
Isn’t that what adults always do, consciously or unconsciously?” (524).
What does she mean by this? How is she defending the role of ‘feminism’
in the education of children?
2. Why
do you think people are concerned about the gender (as opposed to the
biological sex) of a child? What does
gender say about boys and girls (and men and women) that is so important to the
“status quo”? Why do we get
uncomfortable when the rules are broken (or blurred)?
3. How does Fallows introduce a ‘naysayer’ into his argument,
and where might he act like a naysayer in the essay himself? Why is this effective in both
instances?
4. Why is throwing a baseball “a perfectly natural action…but
not at all innate” (403)? How does this
relate to performances of gender itself, and why might “throwing like a girl”
be related to gender, even if either sex can do it?
Savannah Lincoln
ReplyDeleteQ1.
She means that no matter what, as parents people teach their children everything that they know. If people taught their boys that it was okay to play with dolls and their girls with trucks, it would be okay for them to do so. She's defending the role of feminism by saying that if the children don't know any different, they won't think twice about it. If you open your mind and change what you believe, your children will do the same and the newer generation will be a different, maybe better generation.
Q4.
It's perfectly natural because so many people can do it, and do it well, but it is innate because it is something that has to be learned. As you grow up, you're taught how to act, what you can and can't do. Girls cross their legs when they sit, boys open the door for girls. "Throwing like a girl," is related to gender because even though now it's normal to see a girl play a sport, it hasn't always been. It's a statement that at one point in time may have been true, but anymore everything is seen that if a man can do it, a woman can do it as well.
Q.1
ReplyDeleteShe is saying that no matter what a person doesn’t a child is susceptible to anything. For example, if a little 3 year old girl was to bring her mother (who is scared of bugs) a worm covered in dirt that is wiggling around, the woman would most likely scream and go “EW! Get that nasty bug out of here! Girls do NOT play with bugs!” showing the little girl who loved the bug that she is wrong about it and should like to play with the little insects. Being so even if its unintentional, we show children different characteristics daily, if its mother who is cooking dinner, or father who is mowing the law. Sometimes its just the opposite but in most cases it is not.
Q. 4.
Everyone who has arms and hands can throw. As Fallows says, little boys tend to throw stuff more then girls do. And little boys are usually out side playing a nice round of catch with dad then a little girl would be unless the father is un athletic or the girl is with mother. Most of the time (in the older days anyways) little girls would be inside the house helping cook or clean. While, on the other hand, little boys (who could be doing that) would be out side doing chores and would find a stick or rock and decide to throw it into a pond. A little girl isn’t seen to be throwing rocks or sticks and is usually seen as tom boyish and they tend to get on to more then boys do (“as boys will be boys”). So later on when the girl is asked to play baseball with her dude friend then she throws it weird and “girly.”
Q.1
ReplyDeleteWhen Pollitt says, “Feminists... [Impose] their agenda on children.” I think that she makes a huge point because feminists are not the only ones that do this, it is the entirety of the American society. One of the main arguments she defends this statement with is that, “Kid’s aren’t born religious,” which is saying something huge in the terms of culture as we know it. Now, I am neither pushing for, nor against religion. That’s too large of an argument to make in this response, but it is very true that when you are born you have no inkling as to what any religion or deity is. Every child is raised differently in terms of how their parents view this, at least until you are old enough to decide for yourself, many religions call this the “age of reckoning” normally around sixteen years old. This is but one example of how massively our parents can influence our lives if they choose to do so. This is how such gender related “traditions” are carried down through the years.
Q.3
One of the first “naysayer” input Fallows introduces into his essay is the information about how a “number people think that there is a structural difference between male and female arms or shoulders…” He then shows how this is not the case by saying any orthopedist or anatomist can clearly see that men and women have the same shoulder structure. Fallows then acts as the “naysayer” himself when he states that he does not follow along with the fact that boys are “mentored” or “networked” into using throwing skills because it is socially acceptable. He says it is because more boys decide to throw rocks and sticks and compete in doing this than girls do when they are younger. These are useful because they show what a wide majority or people think or believe in and what has become common knowledge or believed to be “fact” in many American households.
Karina Tarpey
ReplyDeleteQ1: Adults impose their will upon their children whether they want to or not. Thats why everyone grows up to turn into their parents, even if they swore at fifteen that it would never happen. Parents pass on their genes, their beliefs, their thought processes, then send you out into the world to mold them to be slightly different. Christian parents bring them up believing in God and going to church, Gay parents bring their kids up to be pro-gay marriage, Feminist parents bring their kids up to believe in gender equality. It is completely natural to involve a child into the parents beliefs. In fact I could argue that it is necessary to raise kids that aren't all the same.
Q3: People are concerned with the gender of a child and adult because they were raised to care about these things. They were raised to uphold the unwritten code of sexuality and gender performance. There has been a huge gender performance movement throughout the LBGT community as well as the feminist community, but there are some of us who still live in the reign of bigots. I hope throughout the next generations we change their minds and can all live happily in unity and equality no matter our gender preference.
Adria Abella Villafranca
ReplyDelete1.At the end of the essay, Pollitt writes, “Feminsits are often accused of imposing their “agenda” on children. Isn’t that what adults always do, consciously or unconsciously?” (524). What does she mean by this? How is she defending the role of ‘feminism’ in the education of children?
In my opinion, I think that all the stereotypes that are around us can change the way to view the things. What I would say is that the adults always are imposing a model to their children. More of them are doing this unconsciously because in our subconscious we have the picture of a perfect boy and a perfect girl. In this passage, Pollitt would say that the parents teach to the kids all the things that they know and if they teach to the children that for example boys can play with dolls, their children will play with dolls without problem. She is defending feminist saying that the children can learn all the things and if they are playing with a kind of toys is because they are teaching their children by their way.
4.Why is throwing a baseball “a perfectly natural action…but not at all innate” (403)? How does this relate to performances of gender itself, and why might “throwing like a girl” be related to gender, even if either sex can do it?
I think that every person in our world can throw a ball, if they are throwing the ball bad is because the need to practice more. Throughout history we have created some stereotypes in the sports and we associated the perfect baseball shoots with boys. Normally, boys are always playing outside with rocks and this kind of things and girls are often playing inside with dolls. About the expression, this expression exist because there are some stereotypes about the way to throw balls. The girl stereotype says that girls can’t throw well because they don’t have practice (they were playing dolls).
Hayden Blakemore
ReplyDelete10-30-14
2. Most people are concerned with the gender of a child on the grounds they sometimes are scared that it’s not the gender they want, even though they are ready for both. When someone is told their child will be a boy, they sometimes rejoice because they will not have to work as hard and will connect a lot easier with it. Whereas, a girl, they might still rejoice, wanting a princess to treat like a queen, but also make her see she needs to be successful also. When the boundaries are blurred, some people might become uncomfortable because they want a manly man, but instead a womanly man steps up to them, vice versa also.
4. Whether we are boys or girls, every kid is always taught how to throw. With boys, they mostly pursue to throw it as hard as possible, where girls would throw with accuracy instead of speed. Either way, we are all taught to throw a ball. Now, the phrase “throwing like a girl” simply means you’re throwing for accuracy and not for speed. Most people that say this usually just want some speed, not to, “hit them in the chest with it”. With that in mind though, there are women who can throw a ball that goes about 95 miles per hour easily. This may shock some people, but others are shaking their head and saying “I know. I caught some from one of those women.” Either way, “throwing like a girl” usually means you’re not throwing it hard enough, but some just use it for an insult.
Q1. She means that feminist often try to alter children’s opinions to form to their own. So do most other adults and people in general. Most people believe they are right only because they think they know what’s best and they have already been through it. She is defending feminism in the education of children by saying “We don’t have choice really, about whether we should give our children messages mean to be male or female --- They’re bombarded with them from morning until night.” By saying this she is defending the education of feminism because she is saying kids are exposed to it on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteQ4. I believe he says it’s natural but not innate because of the way it feels why you’re learning to throw. Throwing a ball is almost like defensive strategy of throwing a punch which could explain why it feels natural. Even through its natural it is not innate because you have to learn the stance any one can swing their arm but ding a stance that makes the throw effective can be hard. This relates to gender because most girls don’t grow up with being pressured to throw a ball so when they do pick one up they tend to throw it weaker or like a girl.
Macy Ellis
ReplyDelete1. She is saying that it doesn't have to be a certain way. We don't have to teach our girls to play with Barbie, and our boys to play with monster trucks. They have such little minds and wouldn't know any different if the parents mixed toys in the toy box. It would probably help them grow up in a place where it is less set in stone of what genders are supposed to do what. If you change the way things are "supposed to go" with each gender, it can help the children's lives. They can grow up thinking people are more equal, and they shouldn't be afraid to do things they enjoy, no matter what people think.
4. I think that when people say "throw like a girl", it is an insult. Girls are perfectly able to throw the ball very well.Yes, guys can be more strong and have a higher speed, but it doesn't necessarily mean girls throw awful. It is offensive to all girls and they don't deserve that criticism. There are many guys I know that are not athletic and many girls could throw a ball a lot better, so it is stereotypical and not true.
Q2: People are worried about the gender of their children because they have the ideas in their heads of what they want their child to be named or what they want them to become. Everyone is excited when a baby comes but we have put so much stress on the fact of how to raise children the right way parents get scared of the gender they will have. For girls parents have to worry about what she will grow up to be and how to handle her while she goes through her teenage years. Boys on the other hand are much simpler than girls. They don’t have to worry about certain things that girls do. Gender just tells what kind of person he or she is. It’s all about stereo types and what they will or are in life. Also how well that parents raised that child to be a reflection of them. We get so uncomfortable because it’s not the norm. We don’t like change and that is one of the reasons. Change is hard and it’s not good when a rule is broken because we aren’t sure what to do or how to handle it.
ReplyDeleteQ4: Throwing a ball isn’t an innate because it take practice. This relates to gender because it’s saying that not everyone can do it. By saying “you throw like a girl” is an insult and a stereo type. Not all girls throw the same and not all boys throw the same. Anyone can throw a baseball and it might actually be innate. We just get the idea from each gender that everyone is the same and that is not the case at all. We are all different and all have a different way we think and act. What we see anymore is one person speaking for the rest of our gender and being a model for it. It’s not fair that it is that way but anymore that is how our world is.
Amber Simpson
ReplyDelete2.) Most parents want their children to grow up to be straight; therefore, they tend to force certain characteristics and ways upon their children. For example, parents usually dress their little boy in blue or red instead of pink or purple. And little girls are “supposed to” play with Barbies and baby dolls rather than hot wheels and G-I Jo’s. I wouldn’t say it is entirely “important” to keep the male and female stereotype going, but it is extremely important to a lot of parents. This is probably because they want their child to fit in with what society wants, or for their child to live the way their religion tells them to.
4.) Throwing a baseball is natural because you know you want the ball to go away from you, so you throw it. It is not innate because there is a certain way and technique to throw the ball correctly and farther. This relates to performances of gender because you are brought up to be a certain way and to fit into society’s idea of how your gender should look, think, act, dress, etc.
Andrew Jordan Nickell
ReplyDeleteQ1- Children are always being told what to do. They are told how to act and how not to act. We are constantly policed by adults trying to impose their will upon us. From the moment we are born, we are forced to act according to the gender standards that modern society has set before us. And if we act outside those lines, we are ridiculed and labeled as a rebel. We can't be our own people. We are supposed to follow what everyone else has. Breaking the norm is bad.
That is one reason why our generation has such a bad reputation. We broke the norm and are trying to be our own people; whether that be being straight, homosexual, tattooed, or girls romping through the mud. We broke the ideals and formed our own and now we are rebels.
Q2- When you are born, you are born a certain sex male or female. From that moment you breathe your first breath, you are forced into the role of that gender. If you are born a male, your parents and family will buy you boy toys and boy clothes and encourage you to play in the dirt. However, if you are born a female you will get girl clothes and girl clothes and if you play in the dirt, you may get a spanking. Modern society has formed our gender roles and norms and shame on you if you break that (lol). If somebody does break those rules, people become very upset. Some may never even speak to you if you act a certain way.
Q2.When a Dad has his first son he sets standards to what he wants his son to act like. Most Dads want there son to be just like them. Or they teach there son to play baseball as soon as they are old enough to catch a ball. If they want to play with a baby doll thats most of the time out of the question. Society as made as think that at a young age if you see a boy playing with a baby doll he's not going to turn out right, which isn't true. Toys are toys to a little kid, it doesn't matter what it is, kids have imaginations of their own. Also once a mom has her little girl, she wants to put them in bows and dresses, but when the girl grows up and wants to get dirty thats unexceptable in some cases. It doesn't matter what parents do, when the kid gets old enough they will be able to decide their own choices. I believe that if something is forced on a child when they are older it effects them when they grow up, it makes them not want to be or do that certain thing.
ReplyDeleteQ4. Throwing like a girl to me is an insult. It all depneds on if the girl is atheltic or not to me, Some girls have never even through a ball or anything. Yeah, girls aren't as strong but I know girls who have an arm. Some boys can't throw either, it's not just girls. Some girls are just as good of throwers as guys are. To me it depends on if you were brought up playing sports or not. If you were chances are you've had a lot of practice, and its not the other girls fault if she's never thrown a ball.
#1. What Pollitt means is the in a sense "feminists" get a bad rap. In reality the accusation that feminists force certain gender on people is true, the fact that people say it is only feminists is outrageous because parents force gender roles on their children whether they know it or not. She is defending feminism in the sense that the only feminists we hear are the radical feminists and that the true is everybody forces gender roles on kids.
ReplyDelete#2. People (specifically adults) are concerned with gender and gender roles because they were taught a certain way and breaking from that seems (to them at least) vulgar. the status quo basically says that if you are of male species that you are to be stronger, wealthier, and even smarter than females. Everybody knows that nobody can really fit the status quo but they want to try their hardest. I honestly do not think it is the breaking of the "rules" that makes people (especially parents) uncomfortable but more that they don't want to see people act or be different, they do not want to feel embarrassed by the way someone else in their species is acting.
Jamison Elston
ReplyDelete2. Our society and culture has stereotyped men and women, therefore it is natural for us to do so as well. We don't know any other way. As it is, girls are supposed to play with Barbie dolls, whereas boys aren't supposed to even go near one. If we see a boy with a Barbie doll, we get uncomfortable because it is supposed to be just a girl's toy because that's how our culture is.
4. First of all, most sports are male-oriented. When we watch Football on tv, it's all guys that play. For some stupid reason, our culture has it where guys are the athletic ones and girls aren't. Women can throw just as well as men, but guys get more practice at it because sports tend to aim more at guys, therefore they are typically better throwers than women that don't play sports.
Q2: I think that we are so concerned with the gender of our children because they are worried about how their child will be perceived. They can even become ashamed of their child if they act outside of the way that society thinks that they should act. Gender dictates that the boy is athletic and into sports. He should like cars and action figures. As a man he should be the leader of the family. He should be the provider. The girls is supposed to hate dirt and like dolls. She plays house and should not like to go outside and get dirty. A woman should be a stay at home provider and should cook clean and care for the children. I believe that we are so uncomfortable by those that do not fit into these rules is because perhaps we are afraid of change. We are afraid that these outliers are the harbingers of the future, that all kids will change from the way we were taught they should act to this new ways.
ReplyDeleteQ4: Throwing a baseball is not innate according to the author because it is something that we learn. In more detail it is is something we learn usually through our fathers. They teach the child, usually a boy, at a young age to throw by playing catch with him. Instead of a conventional learning it is a natural progression by the father figure, granted it can be a mother. So "throwing like a girl" can be attributed to just not being taught to throw 'like a girl' since in our biased understanding of girls they should not be taught to throw.
Faith Armstrong
ReplyDelete1. I think Pollitt is trying to say that she thinks that the feminists are wrongly accused whenever she feels like adults do it all the time whether they realize it or not. She probably feels like adults push the fact that you have to act like a girl or boy on kids, so why can’t she try to make everything equal. What’s wrong with her pushing that? However, I do believe there is a point when too far is too far. Granted women can do some things that men can do and vice versa, but, in my opinion, we weren’t made to be entirely equal.
2. The gender is important because without knowing the difference thing can get messy. If we all started acting the same, doing the same things, and dressing the same way, just take a second to think of what that would turn into. Mass chaos. As I stated earlier, I don’t think we are created to be entirely the same. The man has roles as does the woman. It is important that we teach our children these. Not that they can’t do some of the same things. That’s fine, but there are some things that men are better at than women and again, vice versa. I mean, personally, I wouldn’t want to be working on my car when I have a flat. I know how, but that’s in case of an emergency. A man would be able to do it faster and more efficiently because he has more strength than I do, and probably knows exactly what’s going on better than I do. Whereas, a man that has a daughter would rather her mother help her pick out a prom dress and make all the plans. That doesn’t mean that he can’t, but the mother would probably do it faster. She knows the ins and outs of it. It’s more fitting for her. We get uncomfortable when the rules are broken because it doesn’t generally feel right and rightfully so. We know how things are supposed to go, and that’s the way they go. I wouldn’t say that it’s about being a “status quo”. That is something that has to happen. Gender is something that does happen and will happen. It’s not going to change or go away just because people try.
Carlye Harris
ReplyDeleteQ2. People in our society are so used to the fact that boys only do boy things and girls only do girl things. When you see a little boy playing with a barbie doll it can be alarming because that is not 'normal'. Parents probably try and push their children to do the right thing because they do not want other people judging or making fun of them. We try to teach kids these rules of gender early so that they are very used to it.
Q4. Anyone can physically throw a baseball, but it has to be taught to you how to do it the correct way. It is more naturally perceived as a boy thing, even though just as many girls do too. Back in the day girls could not always play the game and throw a ball but now it is much more common. Girls have grown throughout time to be allowed to do anything boys can do and it not be looked at as weird.