Beyond Pink and Blue

Raising Children With Science Instead of Stereotypes

by Christia Spears Brown, Ph.D.

Date Rape and Dieting: What It Means to be a Girl Today

In our society, it is socially acceptable, and even profitable, to sexually objectify and dehumanize women. Boys, who voraciously consume these images, view women as sexual objects for their pleasure, making rape seem justified. Girls, half of whom diet to be more attractive, are also victims to this mindset, dangerously objectifying themselves along the way. Read More

5 Things Your Child Should Know About Gay Marriage

News stories frequently mention the debate about marriage equality, often trickling down to kids' ears. How should you talk to your kids about gay marriage in ways they can understand? The key is to use concrete language and remind children this affects real families. With two million children being raised by gay or lesbian parents, this debate hits home. Read More

Throwing Out the Bratz

Now is the time of year to make sure all of the toys in your home teach your kids what you want them to learn. Sometimes we overlook the toys that sneak in over the holidays. A toy doesn’t have to be labeled as educational to be instructive. A Bratz doll teaches plenty! Just because you aren’t aware of what your kids are learning doesn’t mean they aren’t learning. Read More

"Lipstick" Legos May Actually Reduce the Gender Gap

I hate to admit being wrong, but maybe the girly Legos aren't so bad. Maybe "gateway" toys help girls play with those toys traditionally claimed by boys. And these kinds of construction toys are good for girls’ cognitive development. So, if pink Legos help girls get involved, more power to them. Even if I have to stifle my gag reflex at all the stereotypes. Read More

Boys Who Cry Might Have It All Figured Out

How we teach boys and girls to cope with sadness doesn't help anyone. We teach boys to repress it and we teach girls to dwell on it. So we get men who need to attend anger management classes and women with high rates of depression. Read More

Don't Take Your Daughters' Education for Granted

Tomorrow when I take my daughter to school, I won’t be worried that some militant group might try to assassinate her because she is learning math. I also won’t be compassionate when she complains about her homework. Instead, I will urge her to become as educated as possible to help change the world. Read More

Think Twice About What Your Daughter Wears

What your daughter wears matters. It affects how other people view her. Adults view tween girls in sexualized clothes as less intelligent, capable, and moral than their more modest peers. And we know, if other people consistently see us in a certain light, we will eventually see ourselves in that same light. Read More

Does Your Daughter Think Only Boys are Good at Math?

Girls who are taught by a female teacher anxious about her own math abilities are more likely to think that boys are good at math and girls are good at reading. After one year, these girls do worse in math than girls in other classes. How can mothers help? Read More

Your Son May Be Teased for Even Small Variations from the Norm

Stories about boys who wear dresses and sparkly shoes are popular in the media these days. But these extreme examples lull parents of more typical children into a false sense of security. By pointing out these extreme examples, parents are often unaware of the ways that their own children may be affected by gender norms. Read More

Does Your Child Get Overlooked by the Teacher?

You have heard the statements thousands of times. “You know how boys are” or “Aren’t you glad you have girls?” Hearing them repeatedly, however, doesn't make them true. To hold onto these stereotypes, we forget all of the many exceptions. Why should parents care? Because your child's teacher may be overlooking your child's unique strengths. Read More

Christia Spears Brown, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Kentucky, where she studies the effects of gender stereotypes among children and adolescents. more...