I was thinking about reading The Dangerous Book for Boys because it looked interesting. What kind of activities did the British authors recommend? Fox hunting? Poking bunnies in the face with sticks? Actually, I guess rabbit-poking is not terribly dangerous, as the little beasts tend to run away rather than fight back, but it seems like something that a manual written to get boys back in touch with their masculine side might suggest. After all, petting cute furry animals gently is for sissies and girls.
My curiosity about the book never got me to the point of reading it, though. I am just too peeved at the notion that these activities (like tying knots) are "for boys." If this was not a clever publicity ploy, I don't know what is. Title a book that has basic fun kid activities as "for boys" instead of "for children," sit back, and watch the ensuing furor. Conservative pundits can talk about how we are finally recognizing that "boys will be boys" (maybe date rape is an activity?) and feminists like me can moan and groan about how much we hate assholes. It's a win-win-win situation!
I blathered more about the book and Tonka trucks (their new slogan: "Built for Boyhood") over at BlogHer.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Surely someone will shit if I publish a picture of my 2 year old boy toting his toy bulldozer on the back of his princess tricycle while wearing one earing stolen from his sister's jewelry box while she hammers on the wall wearing a tool belt. I am clearly straight on my way to totally screwing up my kids. Oh geez...what if my daughter decides not to shave!!!
ReplyDeleteI just left you a comment over at BlogHer. I had wanted to review this book for the Parent Bloggers Network but I did say in my email that I was not impressed by the title. What disturbs me more, though and probably what I'll post about tonight is this workshop I went to on raising boys last night.
ReplyDeleteIt's so crazy. I get yelled at constantly for dressing Baby A in blue. I used to say they were hand me downs from her boy cousins, then moved on to not feeling a need to gender identify my daughter from birth. Now I just tell people that I want to see if she grows up to be a lesbian.
ReplyDeleteI understand what you mean about the book....I liked girly things and was a tomboy too.
ReplyDeleteHowever, after becoming the parent of a boy (after having a girl first) there are definitely differences. I think that it does a disservice to boys and girls to insist on complete gender neutrality.
I haven't read the book either, though it sounded interesting. I thought I read about a book aimed at girls coming out? I don't think it's by the same authors.
my aunt sent this to my son and it is inscribed by my child molesting grandfather...
ReplyDeleteGREAT.
a gift to pass down through the ages.