Long ago, some boys and girls wished to become the opposite sex to which they were born. Girls often dressed like boys and were called “tomboys.” Boys who behaved more femininely than the average boy were called “effeminate.” Over time, they often changed their attitudes to become more masculine. When girls reached puberty, they usually began to behave more feminine and speak more ladylike. The young people usually grew out of their experimental behavior and became mature men and women.
Several men were more comfortable with female friends, who guided them towards dating men rather than prepubescent girls. They were teased by their male friends with less-than-cool comments such as, “Are you turning into a girl?” These blunt comments often led them to change their behavior to fit more traditional roles.
Today, some of this peer intervention is criticized as politically incorrect. Young children, such as infants and toddlers, should not be corrected for behaving like the opposite sex. Boys who cry easily when their emotions or bodies are hurt are often allowed to cry with little or no intervention. No one tells him, “Stop crying. Boys don't cry like that. Don't be a wimp.”
Instead, crying behavior may be encouraged to allow him to “express his feelings.” The opposite happens with girls, who often behave too masculinely and have to tone it down in everyday situations. In other words, parents no longer make a clear distinction between girl and boy behavior.
If we don't voice these traditional distinctions, it creates confusion about how boys and girls should behave. This obviously creates confusion for both boys and girls, and leads to even more transgender confusion. If parents don't teach them the differences between how girls and boys should behave, the gender differences will blend into a unisex culture.
Shouldn't modern parents and families help their children understand that boys and girls are genetically programmed to behave differently from one another, and even point out some of these differences so that they can understand the differences between the sexes? There is a genetic attraction between men and women that makes them want to have children and start a family.
Is ignoring these differences good parenting, or is it the opposite? Parents emphasizing these masculine and feminine differences helps children understand that sexual attraction to the opposite sex is normal and healthy as they approach puberty.
Young people need to know the reality. If children do not know the difference between male and female, they will not be able to learn socially appropriate behavior. In fact, parents need to teach and point out normal and abnormal behavior to teach their children to make good choices and avoid bad choices that may cause unnecessary problems.
Every parent wants to protect their child by sharing knowledge about reality. If parents do not prepare their children by teaching them moral lessons, there is a high chance that they will make wrong decisions. They will not be able to protect themselves from these ignorant and thoughtless choices in life.
No one can actually change their gender. They can only pretend to be the opposite gender they were born with. Their DNA remains the same. This endeavor may start with great hope, but it ends with confusion and a life of dissatisfaction.
Some parents may want to appear progressive and “cool” to their friends by victimizing their child as a transgender person, but the transgender trend hasn't always been in fashion, so it could lead to a confused child living a life as an outcast.
Dr. Domenick Maglio is a contributor to various newspapers and blogs, the author of several books, and the owner and director of Wider Horizons School, a college prep program. Dr. Maglio is the author of a weekly newspaper article, INVASION WITHIN, and his latest book, IN CHARGE PARENTING In a PC World. Many of Dr. Maglio's articles can be found at www.drmaglioblogspot.com.
