Maddy+K.

Siblings and their Gender Views

When my father was 15 he worked at a summer camp as a lifeguard. While at the pool he noticed that only girls would swim at one time and only boys would swim at the other time. After one day at the day camp he and other counselors headed to the park and drank soda, ate potato chips, and played baseball. At the pool girls would swim with girls and boys would swim with boys. At the park the girls and the boys would play together depending on the number of players needed for a game.

Maybe it is age that determines whether or not boys and girls play together? When my father was much younger, 4 or 5, he didn’t mind hanging out with girls or boys. He also pulled their ponytails and said that they had cooties even though he did not believe it; he was the subject of peer pressure at a young age. Even though he was young he was pressured to say that girls had cooties although his belief was that they didn’t. Boys pressured him to do this and that is what made him go and play with the girls. When asked about what he thought the difference of boy and girls activities is he stated, “I didn’t think that girls expressed a desire to do the things that we [boys] did. Boy activities are sports. Girl activities are, I don’t know, because I’m not a girl.” According to him there is a difference between boy and girl activities. To conclude: my father had very stereotypical view towards girls and boys, he was pressured by boys to interact with girls starting at a young age, and at an older age he started to hang out with boys and girls. The peer pressure is part of the reason that makes him play with children of the other sex. My father had siblings that were very far in age from him. Does that affect your views on gender? What about being the youngest or the oldest sibling? His brother was 8 years older than him and his sister was 13 years older than him.

When my mother was 14 she had many chores and responsibilities to do. Her parents pushed her academically and they treated her brothers the same way. My mother and her siblings rotated between the chores of vacuuming, dusting, and having to start dinner. She is the second oldest of five. When she was a child she didn’t acknowledge boys and girls activities except that boys didn’t play with dolls and that girls and boys played in the street together; it didn’t matter the gender. She mostly hung out with girls. According to her, when she was younger, it didn’t matter whether you were a girl or a boy. Everybody played games in the street like kickball. This answers the question: Is it age that determines whether or not boys and girls play together? No, this is because when my father was 10 he had very distinct ideas of girl and boy activities as my mother thought that it didn’t matter your gender.

In conclusion, my mother did not have very strong views of activities for boys and girls, she interacted with boys and girls at a young age, hung out with mostly girls, and would still play games with boys in the street when older with and younger boys. My mother had an older sister who was 2 years older than her, a younger sister who was 3 years younger than her and twin brothers who were 7 years younger than her. Compared to my father her siblings were closer in age but not by much. My mother didn’t have stereotypical views on gender but my father did. Based on there two views we can conclude that siblings age have an effect on gender views; it does not answer the question whether or not siblings affect gender. It also depends on their gender. More studies would need to be done to draw further conclusions.

I like how you interviewed both your mother and your father and compared them and their diffrent thoughts about boys and girls back when they were young. I also like how at the end you reflected on what they said and said what you thought about your parents expiriences with gender. You didnt have to say in conclution at the end and you can add a little more about what you think and why it is diffrent now then when your parents were young. (Samantha Russo)

I like how you brought so much detail, story and general conclusion into the essay. I think you should work on word choice, and not answereing all of the questions you bring up about gender, but analyze them more than find answers, let the reader do that. (Micaela Silver)

he was __pressured__ to say that girls had cooties although his belief was that they didn’t. __Boys pressured him to do t__his and that is what made him go and play with the girls. Doesn't seem right--they told him "Talk about cooties or you'll get it?" Social pressures don't quite work this way right? We like to tease and we like to fit in--say it more simply. MrC

It's good that you included aspects from both of your parents' experiences, but there needs to be some information about you. Let the reader find their own opinion, because you tend to try to find all the answers yourself. ---Tamsin

I like how you compared and explained both your parents views on gender and I also like the way you asked different questions throughout the piece because it makes the reader think about their own thoughts. (Nicole)

NEW DRAFT: Siblings and Their Gender Views

When my father was 15 he worked at a summer camp as a lifeguard. While at the pool he noticed that only girls would swim at one time and only boys would swim at the other time. After one day at the day camp he and other counselors headed to the park and drank soda, ate potato chips, and played baseball. At the pool girls would swim with girls and boys would swim with boys. At the park the girls and the boys would play together depending on the number of players needed for a game.

Maybe it is age that determines whether or not boys and girls play together? When my father was much younger, 4 or 5, he didn’t mind hanging out with girls or boys. He also pulled the girls’ ponytails and said that they had cooties even though he did not believe it. When asked about what he thought the difference of boy and girls activities is he stated, “I didn’t think that girls expressed a desire to do the things that we [boys] did. Boy activities are sports. Girl activities are, I don’t know, because I’m not a girl.” According to him there is a difference between boy and girl activities. To conclude: my father had very stereotypical view towards girls and boys and he has siblings that were very far in age from him. Does this affect your views on gender? What about being the youngest or the oldest sibling? His brother was 8 years older than him and his sister was 13 years older than him.

When my mother was 14 she had many chores and responsibilities to do. Her parents pushed her academically and they treated her brothers the same way. My mother and her siblings rotated between the chores of vacuuming, dusting, and having to start dinner. She is the second oldest of five. When she was a child she didn’t acknowledge boys and girls activities except that boys didn’t play with dolls and that girls and boys played in the street together; it didn’t matter the gender. She mostly hung out with girls. According to her, when she was younger, it didn’t matter whether you were a girl or a boy. Everybody played games in the street like kickball. This answers the question: Is it age that determines whether or not boys and girls play together? In my opinion the answer to this question is no but what would other people say to this question?

My mother did not have very strong views of activities for boys and girls, she interacted with boys and girls at a young age, hung out with mostly girls, and would still play games with boys in the street when older with and younger boys. My mother had an older sister who was 2 years older than her, a younger sister who was 3 years younger than her and twin brothers who were 7 years younger than her. Compared to my father her siblings were closer in age but not by much. My mother didn’t have stereotypical views on gender but my father did. Based on there two views we can conclude that siblings age have an effect on gender views; it does not answer the question whether or not siblings affect gender. It also depends on their gender. More studies would need to be done to draw further conclusions. In my opinion my belief is that things you grow up around affect gender, siblings included.

I liked how you changed up some wording and tweaked the piece in ways that enhanced it's main points, think of a more original and interesting title. (Micaela)

I like how you stated your opinion in the conclusion. (Nicole)

I like how you asked to reader questions. (Jordan)