It’s the 21st century and people are becoming more aware of the stereotypes that exist in society about gender and their roles. Most people want to break out of these stereotypes rather than giving in to toxic roles and regressive ideas. Even parents these days are more open and bring up their children in a gender-neutral manner. They do not restrict their kids and put them into a boxed role of what their kid should and should not be. Gender-neutral parenting enables kids to grow up in a healthy environment and does not enforce toxic gender roles onto the kids.
Recently, a dad in Melbourne, Australia, named Scott Stuart, dressed up as Elsa, the character from the movieFrozen. His six-year-old son, Colin admired Elsa’s character and he wanted to show his son that there is nothing to be ashamed of. He said that he wanted to encourage his six-year-old son to embrace his true self and not conform to toxic gender roles laid out by society. Way to go, dad!
Current Scenario In Society
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We are surely progressing as a society to be more accepting and less regressive. But we still have a long way to go. Right from the movies, TV shows, and even some of the cartoons, we are exposed to traditional gender roles that restrict and put a dent on the freedom of some. Now, we are not saying that traditional gender roles are wrong. But when they start infringing on others for doing something different, that’s when the problem arises.
For example, when a boy wants to join a dance class or pursue fashion designing, it is often frowned upon. Why? Because even in the 21st century, those interests are considered a “girl’s” cup of tea. In the same way, when a girl wants to pursue any kind of sports, wrestling, or racing, she is encouraged not to simply because it is something a boy would do. Remember the movieBend It Like Beckham? It captures the essence of every family’s idea of what it means to adhere to gender roles.
Image: Daily Mail
Even with our society making huge progress in these areas, some things are still considered a stigma. A man who expresses himself emotionally is often told to “man up” or “not be a girl”. Is he not human? Does he not have emotions and feelings like the rest of us? Similarly, the idea that a woman cannot be the provider and has to take on the role of a homemaker is still the case in several societies. In some cultures, women are not allowed to earn more than their husbands simply because it’s not how it’s supposed to be. Sadly, these are some of the ugly truths of the society we live in.
My Shadow Is Pink: The Film
Image: The Indian Express
Like Scott, many parents are now adopting gender-neutral parenting to eliminate toxic gender roles from their kids’ lives. Scott started a campaign to raise funds for a short film called “My Shadow Is Pink” which aims to throw light on neutralizing gender-specific roles. The movie is about a little boy who is born with a shadow that is pink in color (a color associated with girls) which is “not meant for boys”. The boy wishes his shadow was blue but his father supports him and encourages him to embrace his true self without worrying about what society expects of him. The film is said to touch upon topics of stereotypes around gender identity, self-acceptance, diversity, and equality.
We are glad that Scott and people like him are not afraid to break years of stereotypes and stand up for what is right. It truly is a refreshing take on the way we bring up our children in a society that is so lost in years of toxic masculinity and patriarchy. While this won’t bring about a drastic change, there is hope that we are moving forward in the right direction. Comment below and let us know your thoughts.
