Pink - it's just not that important

[mrsbrown]

I've written before about my experiences with gender in small children.  And today there was another article bemoaning the wearing of pink by girls and the constraint of options they have and how they are described by society and I was reminded of an epiphany I had recently.

We were at Rose's new school and I met one the children from Rose's kinder. Her name was gender neutral and she was dressed in "boy's clothes".  I was fascinated by her because I was feeling really guilty that I hadn't managed to dress Rose that way - for a long time.

And then I looked again.  Yes, Rose was wearing pink.  A pink t-shirt, purple hoody and jeans with pink butterflies embroidered on it.  She was wearing sensible shoes.  She was wearing the same clothes as the other child. And she was sitting on the car mat playing trucks with her best friend - a boy.

Rose is generally dressed for comfort,  she can move easily in her clothes and she enjoys playing with fairy wands AND trucks.  Also, I don't generally buy any of her clothes new, so I get greeny points too.

Maybe worrying about girl's fascination with pink is sidetracking people from the real issue?  Our girls children should be able to wear whatever they want  to be comfortable and express their personality.  They should also play with whatever toys they want to - princess tiaras or trucks.  The colour is irrelevant.