Let Girls Play

Have you ever wondered why it’s okay for girls to be sensitive? Are they born that way, or do they develop the trait as a result of the way they are treated as infants or young children? After coming across an article written by a frustrated mother who raised her daughter in a male-dominated neighborhood, the question was raised. Growing up, her daughter often played alone without female companionship. One might agree that there is a correlation between a girl’s sensitivity and how she was treated, relative to playmates, during her formative years.

            If there are three toddlers on the floor playing and they begin to play rough, even if they are laughing and giggling, the boys will be told not to be so rough with the girl. Although the girl was clearly enjoying herself, according to society norms, rough play is not “appropriate behavior.” Chances are, parents are fearful of the children “rough-housing” and the girl eventually getting hurt. When boys pull out their army trucks and toy guns, why do we take those away from a little girl and give her a Barbie doll? While those toys are not harmful, many think it seems more suitable for a girl to play with something less violent and more gentler.

            Once that little girl reaches her school-aged years and wants to play sports, her choices will be different from that of her counterpart. Even if she wants to tackle or wrestle, rarely will a school allow a girl on the football or wrestling team in fear that she will get injured. If she wants to get dirty, she can always play softball, but it will be different than boy’s baseball. The ball will be softer, the game will be shorter, and the ball will be thrown differently so she does not strain her arm. Basketball will also hold the same double standard. Fouls will be called differently and certain moves will be prohibited. If she is just as capable as her male counterpart, why must she play by a different set of rules?

            The double standard for how girls and boys behave will follow her as she continues to mature. When school years begin to wind down and college approaches, it is assumed she will choose a career “suitable” for a woman, but if she picks an officer, firefighter, doctor, lawyer, or engineer, she will have to work twice as hard to prove herself in a male-dominated field.

            Sadly, it continues that, women doing the same job as a man gets paid less, leaving women’s rights a critical point in politics today. The number of women CEOs compared to men is 1 in every 20. The question remains, does knowing the odds are against her, affect her career choices? Although too young to remember, she has been manipulated because of her gender since she was playing on the playground. Would things be different if society would just “let girls play?”

Idea From:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lyz-lenz/gender-discrimination_b_1987291.html?utm_hp_ref=parents-toddlers

Work/Life Balance: Just Say “NO!”

“If a 2-year-old can do it, why is it so hard for a grown woman?”

Oprah was talking about saying no. 

Though we know the answer to this question already, it really does help frame the problem. If you don’t have time to do something, say no. If you don’t want to do something (and it isn’t really necessary anyway), say no.  If you feel like you’re being taken advantage of, say no. If you’re simply exhausted, say no. It seems so easy! But we all know it’s not. It’s hard to let other people down and even harder to feel like you aren’t competent of doing everything, and doing it all at the same time. But there’s a reason that you can’t do everything. It’s because you’re probably overextended and no matter how badly you want to be, no one is Super Woman.

So in our opinion, the best way to say no is to ditch the over-the-top excuses. In most cases you don’t even need to offer a “why”; so unless it’s absolutely necessary don’t disclose the reason you’re saying no. A simple “Sorry, I can’t, I have a conflict with that” will suffice the majority of the time.

Remember, saying no to the monotonous duties that you pour on yourself will give you more time to spend advancing your career AND enjoying your family creating a better work/life balance.