Peers often bully some children who do not fit into their gender specific expectations. As a result of this some children suffer through identity crisis and want to change the things that they do and like based upon the thoughts of their peers and “so-called” friends.
I take from a personal experience of my own, a lesson in the importance of teaching children to be whom they want to be regardless of outside influence. My daughter, a 6-year-old first grader, was the victim of bullying because of gender expectations. Before the school year began we participated in our normal back-to-school shopping. As always I allowed her to pick her backpack and lunch box. It just so happens that within the previous months she had become a fan of Skylanders Swap Force, which is a game she often played with her father and brother. She ultimately chose a Skylanders backpack and matching lunch box (shown below). As a result of this choice, she would report home crying that children at school were calling her a boy because she had “a boy’s backpack.” She felt as though it was necessary to change and purchase a new backpack so that she could keep her friends from talking about her. I made it my point not to waiver to this request but instead to teach her a valuable lesson in self worth and friendship. “If they cannot accept you and respect what you like then they are not the type of friends you need.”
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