Children change their gender on a daily basis. They don't know who they are from

[Bubbles]

"Children change their gender on a daily basis. They don't know who they are from one day to the next at four"

I remember being four, and I think that statement is complete rubbish!

No, small children don't conform to false ideas of what girls and boys are " supposed " to play with.
This has nothing to do with their gender, but false expectations by adults.

 Some children might not conform to the activities associated with a particular sex. But that doesn't mean you can't identify being a girl but still playing with trains instead of dolls.

I was a child who played and preferred some boys toys and was a tomboy, but that doesn't mean I wasn't a girl or identify as a girl.

Isn't this putting more pressure on young children to be re-labelled according to politically correct labels?



What do you think?

For context(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-36092812)

[Brownie]

I agree with you Rose, 100%.

[floo]

Whilst I have never wished to change my gender, I have always been a tom boy, much preferring to wear T shirts and trousers to dresses. I liked to play with boy's toys, disliking dolls and pursuits considered suitable for girls. My mother was not thrilled that her eldest daughter disliked the pretty clothes she insisted I wore.

[Hope]

Whilst there is a degree of truth in all that has been said, it should be noted that younger boys especially - hero-worship other males - sports men being the most obvious example.  They only move onto having posters of women on thir bedroom walls once they begin to approach their own puberty.  Now, whether that leads to confusion over their gender and/or even sexuality or not is open to debate, I believe.

[Brownie]

What you described is quite 'normal' Hope.  Indeed it is more usual for boys to admire older boys and men than women, imagine a nine year old boy having pictures of female models wearing designer clothes on their bedroom walls.  However, if they did, it wouldn't mean they didn't know they were boys, we can't generalise.

floo, I too liked boys' toys, always wanted a train set (never given one  ), but didn't doubt I was a girl, I'm sure you didn't either.   Though I don't think small children really think about it that much.

[Hope]

What you described is quite 'normal' Hope. 

Precisely, Brownie, which is why I brought the issue to the table.  I sometimes think that society assumes things because of what it has been fed over time by the press.  I suppose you could refer to it as 'indoctrination'.