Over the years, I have worked
extensively with kids both as a professional requirement when I was developing
products that would be right for the kids and as a volunteer when we went about
teaching basic tenets of hygiene to kids.
Every single time I had walked
into a consumer group, or in a classroom, one thing always amazed me. The girls
outshone the boys. Every single time. When I visit the crèche at our office
during the evenings; often to get away from the incessant emails and relive my
childhood; I find the girls totally taking control. And it looks amazing.
However, as they grow up something
happens. Often in countries like India, it is economical. The ‘future bread
winner’, the ‘son’ continues his education while the daughter is asked to stay
at home. And the bright sparks slowly die out. That is easily corrected and I
am sure will be corrected.
But as I worked in other markets
outside India, I saw this trend too. At times, I thought that bullies were to
blame. And because of genetics, bullies usually would be boys. (Remember Calvin?
For all intents and purposes, in my mind, Calvin was a bully). But that idea
did not bear fruit. Young girls figure out the bully in the gang and often
ensure they are taught a lesson. So it could not be that genetically stronger boys
bully girls in school which make girls change their behaviour.
There had to be something else.
So I started reading up on
psychology. Some patterns emerged. Societal stereotypes often make kids choose
their calling. The colours pink and blue are a classic example. There are no
pink shorts for boys and only the rare blue frock for girls when you go shopping.
The balloons in the birthday party are always gender coloured. As a result, we
start conditioning kids at an early age. Some of it also is genetic. One of
them is the natural caregiver, the other is ‘supposed to be’ the gatherer.
Therefore there are careers where one would be suited perfectly based on
gender. But then, that’s a generalization. And more importantly, generations of
conditioning allows the caregiver to be the provider but rarely vice-versa.
Yesterday I found perhaps one of
the most plausible explanations for this change. Puberty. And it fits my own
observations for the past 8 years. Stereotypes come into play even more than
they ever did and slowly kids who never thought that they were any different
than boys, begin to act differently.
Watch the video, it’s really
interesting.
And remember to tell your
daughters, nieces, any kid you might know that’s it’s awesome to be #LikeaGirl
