If we taught our children to respect others, wouldn't that be enough?

Question

Or do we have to teach them that every lifestyle is "good" and "healthy"? Why can't we teach them to THINK and reason and come to their own conclusions. If they think girls are cute and boys are stinky, so be it. Or if they think that girls are better at baseball than boys, so what? And if they come to a conclusion that the genders are different, let them think so. What is the value in programming their minds to think one way is always right.....that being the feminist way?

Thanks Karaboo, for the reminder that young minds are tuning into these conversations. I am talking about teaching kids that it is OK for a girl to be a girl, and a boy can be a boy, and all that goes along with that. Studies have proven that there IS a biological difference in the genders. Many schools want to teach kids that the genders are "equal" which is only true in some ways. Other ways, we are very NOT equal. Hope that makes sense.

Answer 1

Of course men and women are different, and not many feminists would argue otherwise. And this difference is obvious to the youngest of children. And yes, it is important to teach and encourage children to think for themselves, while also teaching them to respect the differences of others, and not believe that they are better and deserving of MORE because of those differences. So, we pretty much agree on every point, except that feminists would ever try to ignore the obvious differences between men and women. When feminists say they are "equal" to men, they mean in a social context, (deserving of equal rights, equal consideration) not that we are all "exactly the same."

Answer 2

You wrote: "Many schools want to teach kids that the genders are "equal" which is true in some ways", and then in the very next breath you contradict yourself with:

"Other ways, we are very NOT equal".

You are contradicting yourself because you don’t really know what the term means. Let’s look it up, find a definition for the concept as a political idea; that way we call at least all be on the ‘same page’:

1. Defining the Concept
“Our first task is therefore to provide a clear definition of equality in the face of widespread misconceptions about its meaning as a political idea.:

The terms "equality" (Gr. isotes, Lat. aequitas, aequalitas, Fr. égalité, Ger. Gleichheit), "equal," and "equally" signify a qualitative relationship. ‘Equality’ (or ‘equal’) signifies correspondence between a group of different objects, persons, processes or circumstances that have the same qualities in at least one respect, but not all respects, i.e., regarding one specific feature, with differences in other features.”

Equality means that two ‘things’ may “have the same qualities in at least one respect, but not all respects”. In short, they don’t have to be IDENTICAL to be EQUAL. Men and Women are not identical but society should strive for (political) EQUALITY BETWEEN THE SEXES.

BTW: the term “gender” is totally wrong; it means something else entirely ("gender" is an orientation). Look it up. The "Word Police" are after you.

Answer 3

I think that you should teach your children that everyone is to be respected but to the same extent that they would want to be respected. Further more don't brain wash our children to fit your filthy needs, doing, ignorants, and stupidity. If you want to be what ever behind closed doors don't involve our kids and use them as a cover up for your wrong doings. People have the right to be who ever they want to be they are human, But with that right there are fine lines this is called the law, this is also where respect comes in, then learning to trust your fellow neighbor. It isn't really hard to know what to do in the situation. Just know we all bleed blood, breath, love, hate, eat, sleep and so on. As parents it is our job to try and change the world of our children how you see the world now and in 18 to 20 years could very much depend on you if you are a PARENT. Think wisely with the choices you make and in the upbringing of your children.

Answer 4

It's not just repsect each other, it is that at their age, children don't know any better, and it is our respeonsibility to prove that everyone is equal to everyone else in the world, no matter gender, strength, intelligence or what not, because even because girls "appear" weak, there are boys than look exactly the same way.
I would encourange them to work together in a sport or something, and if that does not work out, find out what everyone's weaknesses are and put them to use in ways that will better the children.
Children will just never know the difference until later in life, because their brains are not fully developed and mayure yet.

Answer 5

I think that they need to grow up and think about something like this on there own, just guide them on the way. RESPECT can be dangerous if you respect the wrong people.....like a gang, respect the gang, and you could be a tarrget for one, or a cult, or terrorist. Respect dosent mean that your a law biding citizen or that you will be the next president of the united states....then again how much respect do people have for him these days.

Answer 6

respect,trust,compassion,faith, to agree to disagree, are parts of moral fiber. this can not be one sided without hindering the learning process. kids think they learn more from other kids than parents, but what they learn is not always right. every lifestyle is not good. prisons are full. wake up. Too instill the "right" attitude in kids one must make the best judgments of all things

Answer 7

I just want to teach my son (if I ever have one) to respect both men and women, but to leave the bast stuff for when he has sex with a woman. I mean what guy doesn't love the though of coming on the back of a woman?

Answer 8

You can let them think what they want if it isnt harmful in their social lives or in their lives gorwing up in general. If a little kid says ewwww boys have coodies....thats normal. If a child says i hate boys and im gonna be mean to them whenever i see them then you need to teach them not to.

Answer 9

i wasnt aware i had my kids thinking anythink other than the way they want about their life choices i just draw the line at ignorance of other ways and people that are different kids can tend to go with the flow of their peers at times luckily mine are seeming to be individuals and not too afraid to be so

Answer 10

You can't just teach them lead by example.