TOW #18: Nonfiction Text- Why Do We Teach Girls That It’s Cute to Be Scared? CAROLINE PAUL

Throughout history women have been forced into a second class role in society, and only recently, relative to the rest of history, have begun to gain equality in society. This inequality begins from the moment the child is born, carries throughout childhood, and follows into adulthood. Caroline Paul discusses the idea of  “fear conditioning” in her article “Why Do We Teach Girls That It’s Cute to Be Scared?” The idea being that, statistically, “parents caution their daughters about the dangers ... significantly more than they did their sons” In her article she uses scientific data as well as person anecdotes to show the wrongful fear conditioning that girls experience during childhood that prevents them from taking more risks and doing things like their male counterparts, and argue that parents should not condition this fear into their children. Parents should encourage their daughters rather than cautioning them with everything that presents a potential risk.
The issue of fear conditioning has been documented on several occasions in scientific studies, and as a result girls grow up conditioned by their parents to not take risks. In Paul’s article she states that “ According to a study in The Journal of Pediatric Psychology last year, parents are “four times more likely to tell girls than boys to be more careful” and that “Girls may be less likely than boys to try challenging physical activities, which are important for developing new skills.” This study points to an uncomfortable truth: We think our daughters are more fragile, both physically and emotionally, than our sons.” (Paul). This image parents create of their children continues the inequality between genders that society continues to face. To take another step towards gender equality, it is imperative that parents encourage their children to try things, rather than cautioning them and holding them back.
By their daughters back, cautioning them at every potential risk, parents are not properly preparing their daughters for life. Paul states that “ risk taking is important. Gever Tulley, the author of “50 Dangerous Things (You Should Let Your Children Do),” encourages girls and boys to own pocketknives, light fires and throw spears, arguing that dangerous activities under supervision can teach kids responsibility, problem-solving and confidence. It follows that by cautioning girls away from these experiences, we are not protecting them. We are failing to prepare them for life.” (Paul). This is a perspective overlooked by many parents when raising their daughters. While things may seem dangerous, it can be a good experience to prepare their daughter for the real world.
Though progress has been made in the fight for gender equality, more action needs to be taken. This includes the ways in which we raise our children. The way to resolve this issue is to encourage girls to try things, not caution them. U.S.A. Hockey is an organization that has started to encourage girls to play hockey. Striving to encourage everyone, including girls to try hockey, U.S.A. Hockey has held events, as well as promoting women's professional hockey. Hopefully more organizations will continue this trend so that the daughters of the world are not held back, unable to try the things they want.