You know this doesn't really have to be a gender specific issue. Everyone has to deal with people that want them to be a particular something. Maybe its something they're not, maybe its something they already are. Point is that other people are going to try to dictate to you how they think you should act and live your life regardless of your gender. My parents (well mostly my dad) want me to come back and join their religion again (fuck that). Be just like them, believe the same silly nonsense they believe. Other people may tell you things like if you want to be an accomplished reader you MUST read these books. If you want to play basketball you MUST be tall. You know what I tell people who try to feed me this shit? I tell them I'll do whatever the hell I feel like and they can go fuck themselves.
Actually this is a very gender specific issue in how it's being presenting. This book is addressing the specific way girls are suppressed and silenced by our culture and society. This isn't theory it's based on actual studies done with children. It's a problem that we can clearly outline, highlight and hopefully fix.
Because this isn't just about the individual people telling women and girls what they should or shouldn't say or do. It's our parents, our teachers, our significant others, the media and ourselves. Peoples perception of us dictates whether we get a job, if authority figures will listen to us and even if people will view us when we are victims of crimes. This is social programing and our entire cultures toxic attitudes about how women should behave and how it needs to stop.
While people of every gender experience social pressure, that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to address how damaging and unnecessary those pressures are. Or that these pressure are differnt for other people doesn't mean we should try to fix them. Making girls and women stronger, more confident and secure in their own selves benefits everyone. So why shouldn't we try to do that?
Side note: We can also help boys too. Terry Crews has written a book about the pressures and damage effects of toxic masculinity on to men. It's called "Manhood: How to Be a Better Man-or Just Live with One."
Because this isn't just about the individual people telling women and girls what they should or shouldn't say or do. It's our parents, our teachers, our significant others, the media and ourselves. Peoples perception of us dictates whether we get a job, if authority figures will listen to us and even if people will view us when we are victims of crimes. This is social programing and our entire cultures toxic attitudes about how women should behave and how it needs to stop.
While people of every gender experience social pressure, that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to address how damaging and unnecessary those pressures are. Or that these pressure are differnt for other people doesn't mean we should try to fix them. Making girls and women stronger, more confident and secure in their own selves benefits everyone. So why shouldn't we try to do that?
Side note: We can also help boys too. Terry Crews has written a book about the pressures and damage effects of toxic masculinity on to men. It's called "Manhood: How to Be a Better Man-or Just Live with One."