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Katha Pollitt's 'Why Boys Don' T Play With Dolls

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The article I chose to read was the “Why Boys Don’t Play with Dolls” by Katha Pollitt. In the article the author explains research that suggests boys and girls prefer certain toys. For instance, studies have shown that a boy will most likely pick a toy car or play sports compared to playing dress up or with a doll. Also, that girls will play dress up instead of playing with a toy car. IN the reading, Pollitt gives an example on the theory of why that is, she states “Increasingly, we are told that the source of these robust preferences must lie outside society -- in prenatal hormonal influences, brain chemistry, genes -- and that feminism has reached its natural limits” (par. 1). In the quote, Pollitt is questioning how children’s preferences come about, whether it’s genetic or if society has an influence. …show more content…

In the example, the son is extremely athletic and loves sports, the mother completely supports the son, even if she has no interest in sports. She supports her son because both her son and husband are extreme sports fans. So, the mother would never discourage the child no matter how foolish she things sports are because she loves and will always support both her husband and son manliness. However, Pollitt brings up a valuable point which states “That if their sons wanted to spend the weekend writing up their diaries, or reading, or baking, they'd find it disturbing? Too antisocial? Too lonely? Too gay?” (par. 9). Pollitt informs us about the double standard that can occur in the family, such as if the son liked to

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