One of the classes I teach is Interpersonal Communication, and one of the topics we discuss in that class is social identity - basically how we learn what it means to be human, moral, polite, a boy/girl, etc., and what effect that knowledge has on our relationships [but you already knew I was a communication geek from my blog title]. Anyway, the prevalent thought among the theorists is that we don't inherently possess any of this knowledge - our early caregivers socialize us to think & behave certain ways that are deemed normal in our society.
Well, the theorists are full of it. After watching my son grow & develop, I can find a million problems with this accepted wisdom. For instance, I have very careful avoided any kind of gender socialization with JT (one exception: I do dress him in "boy" colors). But I haven't tried to stick a baseball in his little hand, or decorated his room with Bob the Builder or anything. All of his toys are educational and gender-neutral. BUT YET... I have a book that teaches kids their numbers. On each page there are different items for each number. Here is a list of things that my son stares at with no reaction (or even looks away):
fish
ballerinas
sand castles
paintbrushes
starfish
seashells
snakes
pies
Here is a list of things that make his eyes light up, his arms flail excitedly and starts a stream of happy babbling:
a firetruck
cars
Where did that come from??? Why does his exhibit such a strong early preference for cars? We certainly didn't teach that to him. And does he somehow know that cars are "boy" things? It makes you wonder....
It does make you wonder. Good point!
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