Hiroko's Hitokoto: 2012

Daughter's 6th birthday party at home today. 8 girls playing in a small room, making bead accessories. A boy came over and asked if he could play, too. A girl said "you can't play because you're a boy". Then I wondered if it was too naive to call discrimination. How did she come up with the result that he couldn't join because he was not a girl? What was the deciding factors of this judgment? Did her family give her a guideline? Did she learn from her friends? I was simply curious how she learned that concept.

I try to be mutual and am trying to guide my kids they should not be stereotyped and not be judgmental, but this is too powerful if you're 6 years old, surrounded by girl friends who have clear ideas what girls should do and boy should not. They know how to segregate before knowing what that means.

I know some people have girls only or boys only birthday parties, and even adults have such gatherings, services such as ladies day, etc. Practically speaking and major common cognizance is that the behaviors and preferences differ between gender. I understand it's easier to handle the group alike. It's the tendencies you see but it clouds your judgment and the mind that everyone is different.

Am I worrying too much?