Generalizations/Stereotypes...?

Question

It seems like people on here expect or need to fit into a generalization or stereotype.

If you don’t lean 100% left or right people claim you “contradict” yourself.. Has American society gotten that far where we belief everyone can fit into a generalization? Do you judge a parenting style when you just hear one parenting skill of theirs? Don’t you think there is a median somewhere between issues such as spanking, breastfeeding, attachment parenting, and discipline? What generalizations or stereotypes do you feel you fit into? If you could explain to someone your point on any parenting issue that you are normally judged about, what would you say?

I feel even in parenting we have to take these generalizations to the highest degree--to the point where you can only be one certain way.

The lists goes on and on. I truly think it’s sad, as parents, that we cannot all get along. That even though we may not agree, we are all doing what we feel is best for OUR families and OUR children.

I hope this makes sense!

Answer 1

Great question, first off. I do tend to impugn certain things parents do and I do tend to stereotype certain parents as this or that. I don't ever try to be mean about it though. I only judge because I sometimes just don't see why certain parents do what they do and I just sometimes don't see how some things could possibly be good for your child.

I don't know for sure what stereotypes I fit in to, but I'd love to find out.

If I could explain to someone my point on a certain parenting issue, it would be spanking. Most people think parents who spank just go around threatening to spank their kids and just smack their kid's butts all day long. They could not be more off when they think that. I don't threaten my kids with spankings, and I spank them maybe once a month. On the contrary, their kids are in time out 4 or 5 times a day. They want to argue that spankings are wrong, yet are blind to the fact that their form of punishment isn't working or they wouldn't be doing it so often.

Anyway, I hope we can all (including me!) learn to respect each other's parenting choices instead of all the stereotyping.

Answer 2

I don't enjoy spanking my kids, but will if it's necessary.

I know the benefits of breastfeeding, but I bottlefeed.

I want my kids to be able to come to me with their problems, but I also want them to try to work them out for themselves first.

I think discipline is a must, but I have learned from my mom to pick my battles.

We all judge, and we should stop it. If we were all alike, the world would be a sad place to live.

Answer 3

That's the great thing about it, you can try one person's advice, if it doesn't work for you try someone else's. Don't you just love America?