From an early age, children learn what society expects of boys and girls. These expectations appear in toys, in the colors of clothes, and in the way adults praise them. A girl may be told that she is kind and neat, while a boy is told that he is brave and strong. Such comments seem harmless, but they add up over time.
The problem with stereotypes is that they turn general ideas into rules for individuals. Not all girls dislike mathematics, and not all boys dislike caring for others. When children believe that some activities are not for people like them, they may stop trying before they discover what they are good at. In this way, stereotypes reduce the range of choices that a child feels able to make, and society loses the talents that are never developed.
Some people argue that differences between boys and girls are natural, and that it is therefore pointless to worry. It is true that people differ, and researchers continue to debate how much biology and environment each contribute. But even if some average differences exist, they say little about any particular child. Within each group, the variety among individuals is very large, so it makes little sense to decide a child's future from a label.
What can adults do? They can offer a wide variety of experiences, such as building blocks and dolls, sports and art, without commenting on which is suitable for which sex. They can praise effort and curiosity rather than personality traits linked to gender. They can also show, in books and in daily life, people who do jobs that break the usual patterns. The purpose is not to force children to reject tradition, but to make sure that every option is genuinely open.
A society that allows each child to follow his or her own interests will benefit from more diverse abilities and will be fairer to everyone.
