Why girls can be boyish but boys can't be girlish Elissa Strauss CNN
About This Post
A parenting essay arguing that while feminism has successfully expanded what girls can do, it has barely touched boyhood. Strauss — writing about her 5-year-old son's love of a My Little Pony sweatshirt — explores why feminine interests in boys still raise eyebrows, and argues that true gender equality requires broadening what it means to be a boy.
Key Takeaways
- Gender progress has been one-directional: girls can do anything traditionally "masculine" without judgment, but boys face stigma for anything traditionally "feminine"
- The tomboy is 400+ years old and now aspirational; the "tomgirl" remains a non-starter
- The toy industry has faced far more pressure to expand girls' toys than boys' toys — though gendered toy categories are slowly being eliminated
- Broadening boyhood would help inoculate boys against toxic masculinity in adolescence (aggression, stoicism, homophobia)
- For parents: This article is written by a parent for parents — it directly addresses the challenge of raising boys who love "girl things" and argues that supporting them benefits everyone
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Why girls can be boyish but boys can't be girlish — CNN
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