Let’s Empower Our Daughters

As a father of two boys and a girl I try to treat them the same. What's good for the goose is good for the gander as the cliché goes. The keyword in the opening sentence is "try." The boys are who they are, my oldest is a little more artsy, likes music, drawing and things that are more abstract. My younger boy is all about well, snips and snails and puppy dog tails. He likes sports, things that go fast and making bodily sounds.

My daughter, Vikki who is 17 months tomorrow is rambunctious, fun, good spirited and likes to make a mess of books, CDs and other things we've just picked up. I've always told myself that I would raise a daughter the same as a son. I however get caught up in telling her she looks pretty or I'm often calling her a princess. I read an item about girls and ambition or lack there of. All of this has got me thinking, is calling Vikki a princess or telling her she's adorable, part of the issue. Allison Melangton an Edward Little grad, athlete and C.E.O. talks about how many girls don't dream big enough. Maybe by instilling a sense of being a princess isn't a good idea? Girls should be ambitious, as should boys, but this is post is focusing on girls and young women. I think it's okay to tell your daughter she's a "cutiepie" for example and at the same time try to inject motivation to go out and get theirs whatever it may be. Stars are the limit, be President, run a Fortune 500 company or be a Marine.

Just wonder if the reason for the "smaller dreams" is because of some sort of underlying sexism? It does seems generally speaking in the teen years boys mean more to girls than girls mean to boys? Your thoughts.