Breaking the Traditional Parenting Roles and Role Models

Children are vulnerable, gullible and can be manipulated easily. As a child they easily follow the lead of their role model, which is generally the one who brings them up. They form opinions and perspectives similar to their role model. How parents as role models act with the topic of gender roles and how hard they execute them on their own child is a necessity in a successful upbringing. So how should parents raise their children and what gender expectations should they enforce?

Gender roles are the expectations engraved into society from many generations. These limit the options of everybody. They don’t let you pursue your passions at times as people are not open to new ideas. There are many types of parenting styles which can help loosen or enforces these ideas more such as gender neutral parenting, gender binary parenting, non binary parenting, traditional parenting and non traditional parenting. Today we will be looking at and investigating the pros and cons of each of these styles and how it can impact the child's life.

Firstly, let us look at gender neutral parenting. ‘Gender neutral parenting is allowing children to be exposed to a variety of gender types so children can explore their gender without restriction from society or the gender they were born with.’ Meaning that the child is free to choose their style and the way they express themselves without the pressure of society and gender stereotypes. Parents imposing this lifestyle on their child would give them the option of pursuing both male and female clothing, toys, hobbies etc. This can also increase their self esteem because who they are is not hidden, it is open and they are able to celebrate their styles. Furthermore they will be able to explore and understand more about the opposite gender which will result in less bias thus reducing stereotypes in society. They are also able to make decisions and they get freedom from a young age, meaning that it is more likely that they will grow up to be good leaders. This style of parenting will reduce gender stereotypes as it becomes more common in society, but while it isn't, the pressure of raising your child in this manner may make them feel ashamed of who they are as not many people express themselves differently from non gender traditions.

Secondly, gender binary parenting is the classification of two distinct sets of groups that are opposite and not related, male and female. In this there is no middle ground - you are only part of either one of the two. This type of parenting restricts the freedom of the child and limits them to only be able to explore and understand one gender, which means they don’t truly know who they are. This can limit them in the future, as they will have these gender stereotypes imposed and engraved in their brains as they have been programmed like this. If the child wants to express themselves as neither male nor female then they will feel out of the box. They will be considered as the black sheep which makes them feel ashamed and can cause problems in the future. This style of parenting helps classify people easily but does not benefit people through there personality and their style.

Thirdly, non gender binary parenting, ’is a catch-all category for gender identities that are not exclusively masculine or feminine.’ Non gender binary people normally express themselves as both male and female and combine the two styles or neither. This style and application of both genders can often confuse others, resulting in the other person often being ashamed. Though this type of expression can result in an open mind and as this becomes more ordinary in society gender stereotypes will start to lift. Furthermore non gender binary are able to have the most freedom and are able to apply themselves in a larger variety of things.

Fourthly, traditional parenting style, is how most of us have been brought up. Gender stereotypes have not been forced on us but are naturally expected by the influence of society. In this children have limited freedom and are able to express themselves though they are yet judged. As this is the most common parenting style children will be able to adapt into society easily but people who are different will feel isolated.

Finally, non-traditional parenting style allows the child to express themselves in neither male or female ways but rather a distinct class which overlaps both genders. This can be such as dressing up in colours such as green and yellow as they are not stereotyped as male or female colours. This style of expression may limit themselves but still gives them the option of using feminine and male ‘colours’. This parenting style will help the child become more creative with the colours they use and wear without being judged.

My personal parenting style would be non traditional and a slight mix of non gender binary. Meaning that I will let them wear blue and pink if they want, but mainly use gender common colours. I believe that this is the right way in raising your child because even though it still has its limits and it isn't complete freedom it is still a step further in expanding expression and being more open to different styes. As long as traditional gender parenting will be on society gender stereotypes will not be able to permit as people will be strictly limited to their own gender, meaning that people don’t get a choice. This is why I strongly encourage the idea of expanding your parenting styles and opening them to a more diverse range of colours, toys, interests, insights and more.