Gender Assumptions

People begin to gender stereotype even before the child is born. People are consumed and intrigued by asking the question, “ Is it a boy or a girl”? I never really put much thought into this topic of gender stereotypes and roles until my little brother was born, when I was about 13 years old. My parents were told several times during doctor checkups and ultrasounds that they were promised a little baby girl. So in preparation  for their new child they went and bought everything pink possible, a pink blanket, clothes, bow ties and of course painted the nursery pink. Well needless to say when my little brother was born everyone was a little shocked. I remember for a few days after he was born my Mother had to dress him in pink and frilly clothes until they could go buy more masculine clothes. I remember everyone that came to my house to visit the new baby were all shocked that he was wearing pink clothes and were immediately concerned. This brings me to my current thoughts that in reality wearing a certain color or kind of clothing has nothing to do with how you will act when growing up. Even though my brother wore “ girl” clothing,  he currently as a thirteen year old would fit everyone’s perspective of what a person of male gender would dress like and be interested in.

I also think that people are so intrigued and worried about mismatched gender roles because our society as a whole is scared of standing out in any way that would seem abnormal or subject them to reticule in any way shape or form.  When people switch from the norm in gender expectations and dress like the opposite sex, or stray from the normal heterosexual relationship and sexual orientation it is directly related to the global assumption that girls are associated with the color pink, and boys with the color blue.