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In reply to the discussion: Taylor Swift: "Misogyny Is Ingrained in People From the Time They Are Born" [View all]polly7
(20,582 posts)I have a very large and very, very large extended family. I haven't seen this at all. Surely our culture can't be that different? Not once have I heard disappointment when a girl was born, or 'maybe next time you'll get a boy' - and I promise, if I ever had, I would have said something.
Even I was never treated any differently than my five brothers. I don't know of a single niece (I have 8 brothers and sisters, all with children) who's been held more as a baby than any of her brothers, denied a single thing her brothers were or anything else. Many of them, like me, play hockey and among the younger ones, many (like I did) play on the baseball teams. The only thing I can possibly agree with is with regard to sports and girls not being able to continue on with baseball, but softball is great too. Many show calves in 4-H and have to take care of them completely on their own, some do barrels and roping on horses they're also in complete charge of caring for, etc, etc. Those are just a few examples of what might be considered 'boy activities' - I honestly don't get what girls (apart from those in cultures or religions run by fanatics) are denied today.
Two nieces are oilfield battery operators, another is a welder ... they had no problem getting these jobs. If you try, you can achieve - male or female.