I always thought babies were born as blank slates and the parents molded and taught them gender roles, etc.
I had two boys. We didn't allow guns in the house. We didn't talk about them, just basically ignored their existence. The first time the oldest got some Lego blocks, he built a gun! We had plenty of toys and dolls etc, and he always went for the cars and traditionally "male" toys. We didn't encourage it, he wasn't in childcare, he was just "like that."
My best friend had two girls, the same ages. The wanted to do the girly things when they came over.
We moved away and had two girls. Meanwhile my friend had some boys. She later called and apologized for all the things she had said about my parenting. I was amazed at how different and easier girls were.
I have always been a women's libbist, and have a degree in chemistry. But I had to admit I was wrong about the blank slate idea.
My second son did have a period when his sister was born when he was inseparable from his baby doll, that he dragged around by the leg.He refused to put clothes on it, so I had to crochet a little dress directly onto the doll because I didn't like her being naked all the time.
And my older daughter insisted on climbing trees and couldn't STAND dolls. She is like me, not a girly girl at all. But the older one now has a degree in linguistics and is choosing to stay at home and raise children while her husband works. They hope to get a big horsefarm someday and work together doing tourist rides in Alaska.
Despite my women's libbist tendencies, I have LOVED being a mom and my kids are wonderful, so I must have done something right. My brother-in-law stayed home with the kids while my sister worked, and that worked for them.
The bottom line is that boys and girls ARE overall wired differently, but there is some overlap. There will always be traditionally female and male roles, but also with some overlap. The one thing we can do to really screw up society is to have quotas. The best thing to do is to encourage each person to follow their heart.
1. Nancy has travelled a lot in her life. She has been to many countries. Last year she visited Greece.
2. Hello, Pat! I'm glad to see you in Oxford again. How long have you been here? When did you arrive?
3. When did you first meet your teacher? How old were you then? How many years have you known him?
4. Have you ever tasted any tropical fruit? Where have you eaten it? Did you like it?
5. — Has Helen written the letter yet? — No, she hasn't. She, began doing it only ten minutes ago.
6. She says she has always wanted to come to Australia. Now she is happy, she has been here since Thursday.
7. Kate has not typed all the letters. She typed three of them yesterday. But she hasn't done anything today.
8. Uncle Tom has never flown in his life. But the other day he made up his mind to take a flight to America.
2. Paella is served in Spanish restaurants.
3. The best vegetables are bought
in the market.
4. Carrots are boiled in a little water.
5. Fast food is thought to be unhealthy.
6. Bananas are eaten a lot by apes
7. Dinner is cooked by my mother.
8. Hockey is played in winter.
9. The animals are kept in cages in many zoos.
10. Bread is eaten every day.
11. Cheese is made from milk.
12. Milk is sold in this shop.