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  • Gender Roles In Children's Literature

    Back in second grade, when I and many of my classmates were forming Harriet the Spy clubs, complete with code names and symbols to indicate various personality traits—including “suspichis” and “meanie”—brassy characters like Harriet starred in just about all the books I loved. It never occurred to me that I was behaving in ways that could be considered “unladylike.”

    But when the book first came out in the 1960s, that’s exactly how Harriet’s character was received, according to an NPR segment this morning.

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  • Top 5 Bad Mother's Day Gifts for Grown-Up Tomboys

    As a former tomboy and avid devourer of pirate, private detective, and pioneer girl novels, I learned more about brake pads than kitchen utensils during my happily gender-free growing up years.  Fast forward many many hungry children later and I've learned more domestic skills than I ever thought possible, but out of necessity rather than love.  Anything domesti-mommy represents my idea of the worst possible Mother's Day gifts of all time.  You might love them.  But me and Harriet the Spy think they stink.

    1. Kitchen Implements - Anything related to baking pies, making lasagnas, or fancy mixer doo-dads send the absolutely wrong message.  If you want your tomboy to love you, buy yourself these things and show her what you can make her with them.

    2. Sexy Lingerie - Grown-up tomboys may love to dress up all pretty, but don't buy her lingerie for Mother's Day unless you want a black eye.

    3. Workout Membership to the Gym - Again with the wrong message.  Your tomboy probably loves team sports, the more rough and tumble the better.  But aerobics? Probably not her thing.

    4. Hallmark Book-Length Card with Sappy Sayings About Motherhood -  If the first few lines read, "Dear Mother of My Children. You always know just what to do.  Your loving kisses and hugs are like angel wings from heaven..." Step away!! Your tomboy would rather see something funny and light than schmaltzy and ushy mushy.

    5. Cross-Stitched "Mother's Love" Pillow - Your girl probably doesn't like cross-stitch on principal.  And country cute is definitely not her aesthetic.  Stay away from all things plaid, lacey and bunny.  Or else.



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