Who says raising boys is easier?

[KitSileya]

67. I think that gender roles in many aspects are even more rigid for boys

At least here in Norway, the pink and blue aisles at the toy store have become more prevalent in the last decade. We're backsliding on the gender differentiation, princesses for girls and action toys for men, and the like. However, it is quite ok for a girl to cross the aisle, as it were, and play with 'blue' toys and boy's games. it is even soemthing to be proud of, and brag about. But woe the boy who wants to cross to the 'pink' aisle. Then there must be something wrong with him, and he needs to toughen up etc.

My brother-in-law is like that with my nephew, unfortunately. I was also told a funny anecdote at work of someone's nephew who always wants to play with dolls and be a princess, which drove the father to distraction. This Christmas, as they were getting dressed up the Norwegian equivalent of 'trick or treating', which happens in the days between Christmas and New year's, he wanted to dress up in a pretty dress. The father refused to let him, pushing all sorts of superhero costumes on him. When the boy saw the Superman costume, he enthusiastically agreed to wear it, and the father sighed a sigh of relief. That lasted until they rang the first doorbell, and the neighbor asked the children who they were dressed up as, and the boy proudly twirled around with his cape and declared he was a princess!