Yes that’s right the above is not a typo because there is going to be no sugar coating this post. I am going to get on up in my soap box and have my say
Brought on by a currant news story in Australia about a young boys fight to play in a girls netball competition. Seriously enough is enough, when are people going to stop holding kids back and nurturing their interests?
There is nothing worse that being told you can’t do something just because you are the wrong gender. BULLSHIT! Unless there is a physical medical reason I say why not?
I am certainly not the first to raise this issue and it makes me sad that I won’t be the last. Mrs Woog from WOOGSWORLD brought the issue up when she tried to enroll her son in a school holiday dance program – an inspiring, honest post (read here) about standing up for yourself and childrens interests. Followed by an equally brilliant piece (read here) from the ever talented Danielle from DANIMEZZA. Both these women have given this topic their thought and shared their personal story on the issue
Now whilst I haven’t dealt with this issue myself. I have witnessed it first hand and never in my life have I been more appalled because for once it wasn’t the organisation it was the small minded people having their say and not keeping their bullshit and shallow opinions to themselves.
I am going to go out on a limb here and call them fuckwits because they are I will not name any names because I am better than that. I want to tell my story about a young and upcoming cheerleader.
My daughter started cheering for the local NRL squad last yr as a mini all star. Cheerleading is a sport that combines fitness dance and gymnastics and for our family ticked all the boxes. There are 5 squads she is in the youngest squad. Next year she grads to the Topgun squad. That squad up until a few weeks ago had the only male cheerleader and for his age group he was the best. I had spoken to his mum when y daughter first started and I quite simply told her how talented he was and she must be so proud. She was but she also told me that her son struggled because even though he had the full support of the organisation a lot of the mums weren’t comfortable and that had started voicing their opinions around him.
I was appalled seriously Disgusted I called one of them on their behavior and said it wasn’t appropriate and to keep their opinions to themselves. Yeah they just rolled their eyes at me and moved on. A couple of weeks later he stopped coming and I have since found out he quit because he didn’t feel comfortable
Now excuse me whilst I stop preparing my husbands dinner, after spending the day making the house perfect and unchaining myself from the kitchen sink. Because obviously we’re stuck in the 1950′s seriously am I not the only one who thinks the is a complete load of crap. That a poor 7yo boy got bullied by some small minded parents and quit a sport he not only enjoyed but was amazingly talented at. He had the full support of the National cheerleading association. Was well liked by coaches and peers alike. Was it jealousy? Where they threatened? Because I can’t rationalise another parent doing this
This seems to be an ongoing issue in our country at the moment and I say let kids be kids. We live in a society where females are CEO’s and respected in those positions. Where men happily switch roles and become home makers. No one has issues with them? What inspires you makes you the person you are. Your interest in life mould you in to the person you are. They don’t define your sexuality or your role in society, so next time you see a little boy dancing to his favorite song or playing with dolls their just trying out their interests. Or if you see a little girl playing with cars or dinosaurs let them be. Nurture them never hinder them
** please note I have only proof read this once. I typed as the thoughts flowed and have left it that way. So excuse any grammatical/spelling mistakes
