Australian Prime Minister Abbott: Let boys be boys and girls be girls

[-:Undertaker:-]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp...ralian-PM.html

Australian Prime Minister Abbott: Let boys be boys and girls be girls

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Tuesday weighed in on a debate about gender-specific toys in the lead-up to Christmas, saying boys should be boys and girls should be girls.

Greens senator Larissa Waters has backed a "No Gender December" campaign, aimed at breaking down stereotypes around buying dolls for girls and trucks for boys.

But Abbott, a conservative who has three grown-up daughters, said parents should be allowed to do what was in the best interests of their children.

"I certainly don't believe in that kind of political correctness," Abbott told Channel Nine television.

"Let boys be boys, let girls be girls -- that's always been my philosophy -- and above all else, let parents do what they think is in the best interests of their children."

The campaign is asking anyone concerned about gender marketing to children to sign an online pledge that "there is no place for gender stereotypes under my Christmas tree".

Waters said "separate aisles of pink and blue, catalogues categorising toys as for girls or boys and advertising showing just girls or boys playing with particular toys" reinforced inequality between men and women.

"Setting such strong gender stereotypes at early ages can have long-term impacts, including influencing self-perception and career aspirations," she said.

"Outdated stereotypes about girls and boys, and men and women, perpetuate gender inequality, which feeds into very serious problems such as domestic violence and the gender pay gap."

But Conservative senator Cory Bernardi backed Abbott, calling Waters' comments "bizarre".

"I hope that Santa brings Senator Waters some common sense for Christmas," he told reporters.

In more sane days, you'd be puzzled as to why he would have to come out and state what is the bleeding obvious - unless you work in a university sociology department. But it's about time somebody stood up and said this and kept these meddling social engineers away from children and children's toys. If little Sarah wants a pink barbie car and Bobby wants a blue hotwheels car then they want them because that is what most normal kids want to play with, not because of some conservative conspiracy to lower the wages of the wimmin.

Well done Mr Abbott, if only we had such common sense from our supposed conservative Prime Minister of the realm.

Thoughts?

[FlyingJesus]

As long as it is let them and not make them then sure I don't think anyone fit for parenthood would disagree

But well done to Waters on talking about the supposed wage gap in a country that made it legal to pay women more just for being women lol top nonsense but you can expect that from Greens I guess

[GommeInc]

It seems like common sense, and if a boy wants to play with girls toys then let him and vice versa then let them. In fact, loads of girls want supposed "boys" toys which are Avengers toys yet they're labelled as being for boys. Just let children play - rather than force them to play or act in a certain way if they are not causing any harm.

[AgnesIO]

I agree with Abbott and yourself, Dan.

Never understood the bizarre praise for parents who happily let their male children go to a party in a dress, or buy them barbie dolls. Likewise, for girls (opposite, obviously). Having said that, if a child wants to play with a toy; let them.

Guess I am a traditionalist though.