"Let the boys be boys." You've heard this phrase before. Often repeated by parents regarding their little boys. So what makes a boy, a boy? Rambo like characteristics? Muscles? Short hair? Wearing blue? Wearing T-shirts and jeans or playing with sporting equipment? Well last I remember, the main characteristics boys shared were penises. The role gender association play in the lives of our children can sometimes affect them negatively. The messages that gender roles send, is that in order to be part of society, you must fit into the norm or the status quo or most importantly what society

deems as acceptable. But all the while, trying to incorporate individuality and establishing ones sense of self. Two conflicting ideas that can confuse a child and also alter the way they live their lives.

There are two colors that are designated to babies that serve one purpose and one purpose only. Most infant boys were the color blue and girls wear pink. Seeing that it is difficult to determine the sex of an infant without general exposure to the genitals, most parents choose to clothe they're young child in the respective colors so people will know whether it is a boy or a girl. After all, what mal

toys and the entertainment business.

computer to see if the lights are blinking, and they arrant. They even say, 'See Mr.Richards, I can be a good father.' The funny thing is that they even come back the next day and say, ' Hey, Mr. Richards, can I have the same baby again tonight, you know, the one

eyes opened, its the parents. Many children, upon reaching adolescence are able to see

Why it is so hard to communicate with someone of the opposite sex? Is it really the genetically make up, X and Y chromosomes, or is it that we really truly think differently? We really do think differently. I know that many parents encourage little girls not to play with the boys because they feel that type of social interaction wouldn't be appropriateonce they reach puberty, especially when they become aware of sex and relationships. So this sort of separation contributed to the lack of communication between the sexes. If cross-gender interaction and communication was encouraged, perhaps boys and girls

e infant wears pink? When the children grow older, do they still continue the practice the color identification game? This is wear it changes. When boys reach the age wear they start dressing themselves and start buying their own clothes, they will continue to wear the

that looks like me!' That makes me feel so good inside, and there will be one less single mother in the world."

blues and the greens and even yellows and reds, but not pink or violet, cause those are "girly" colors. Girls on the other hand, when they reach the same age still continue to wear the pink and violets and can even wear the blues, yellows, blacks, and greens. So why can

would grow up knowing how to be sensitive to eachothers needs and also learn more about eachother which would help them understand what it takes to make healthy and long lasting relationships. It also affects how each sex conducts public communication and who the environment they are most comfortable speaking in. " Men speak to convey information, to challenge others, to achieve status in a group, or to put themselves in a "one-up" situation. Many women, on the other hand, feel more comfortable with private conversations among friends and family. They talk to achieve and nurture intimacy, to promote closeness and equality in a group, and to build better connections to others."(Tannen). Although the gender differences exist in communication, it doesn't mean that one is superior to the other or one is at fault. It is important that we are able to recognize these differences because it can only help "... overcome potential obstacles to their mutual understanding and acceptance." (Hales).

There are some positive aspects of gender roles that even I like and wish was still implemented as a part of daily living and modern courtship. It is good to see that many men still open the car doors for their ladies, take them out to dinner and a movie, and initiate contact between the two. Although it is the 90's and we are approaching the millennium, and women are being more and more independent and payin

Some common words found in the essay are:
Wearing T-shirts, BACKSTREET BOY, Hey Richards, I'm Millions, Madamoiselle Glamour, Project Promise, GI JOE, Gender Roles, Personal Interview, gender roles, Muscles Short, play dolls, magazines aimed, gi joe, gender roles send, eating disorders depression, clothing times, tell children, girls grow, roles send, personal interview, don't understand, boys play dolls, allowed play dolls, gi joe figurines,
Approximate Word count = 2055
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)