Last weekend I travelled across town to
attend the baby shower of a good friend of mine. I'd spent a lot of
time buying and making the cutest little pink covered things I could
find. I even attempted to make 'girly' cake pops, which were
unsuccessful as pops, but still a hit as a chocolate treat.
We'd already discussed pink and all that entailed, and Future
Dad was pretty keen on not having too much of it around. (At least not any more than any other colour.) He wanted to
know that his daughter could delight herself in the world of colour
and feel comfortable with whatever she were to choose. As someone
with a passion for arts, child development and creativity, I
completely agreed. Colour is something we learn to intrinsically link
with so many things in life. However Not all colour coding is necessary.
So there I was, with gifts in a pink
box, with a huge coordinating floofy bow, feeling a little silly. My
purchases and creations felt needlessly... pink. The last baby shower
I had attended I'd found 'first' crayons to go with my gift. It seems
that my ideas of gender really impacted my choices.
What starts before birth soon cements,
as boys and girls do as they are raised. Books are still written to
this day for boys and girls directed at their young colour coded target market.
We
need to be mindful of the ways we influence the next generation.
How does this relate to art and craft
time?
It is extremely important that I note
there is no harm in children choosing gender prescribed colours. My
concern focuses more on the way adults influence children during role
play, imaginative play and other creative times. Should it matter who
is wearing fairy wings? Playing construction in the mud?
Does it matter which child crafts with
the pink card or blue? Is there any reason why boys cannot learn
needlecraft and baking, and girls cannot learn woodwork and
electronics? Life skills can be learned from these activities.From these opportunities come well-rounded children.
Are we limiting our children by not
offering them the gamut of childhood possibilities?
Image via 'Men and Feminism',
photographer unknown.
Postscript. I understand that gender
roles are different the world over. My attitudes are based on
society that surrounds me, that I am enveloped in. I welcome
feedback, and certainly do not consider myself to be flawlessly right
on this or any issue.
