DR. PHIL: BARBIES NOT FOR BOYS
Television psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw has urged a mother to direct her son away from playing with “girl’s toys” to avoid any “confusion”.
This was in response to an e-mail from a mother who expressed concern that her five year old son is interested in toys and clothes usually associated with girls, which she “doesn’t think is normal”.
Replying on DrPhil.com, the doctor wrote:
“Direct your son in an unconfusing way. Don’t buy him Barbie dolls or girl’s clothes. You don’t want to do things that seem to support the confusion at this stage of the game. Take the girl things away, and buy him boy toys. Support him in what he’s doing, but not in the girl things.”
He added: “This is not a precursor to your son being gay.”
A number of child developmental specialists and activists have slammed McGraw’s advice.
“When a media personality like Dr. Phil sends a message to viewers that their children should conform to narrow stereotypes of gender roles, it can make the process of understanding and appreciating who you are more difficult for young people,” Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation President Jarrett Barrios told The Advocate.
“What’s important here is that every child has the opportunity to express who they are in a way that is safe and nurturing because at the end of the day, our society thrives on children and adults whose interests are as diverse as the people in it.”
Phil, turn up the sterio(type). That’s it Phil, stuff the little children into boxes, slap a label on them and ship them off to la-la land so they can all grow up into suit-clad accountants, doctors or lawyers when they’d probably make the worlds finest piano players, artists or philosophers. Ooops, did I spot a ‘phil’ in philosopher? Anyway, I said ‘finest’ lol
Such junk!. What a load of old crap. This Dr. Phil is such a big-headed asshole. He is nothing more than a hollywood creation, and a phony. Unfortunately with the hype people worship his star status and think everything he says is true.
He is so star-struck with his own fame that he really couldn’t even give a crap about whether his advice is right or not. He is no psychologist.
And strangely, I never ever in my life played with or preferred girly things, yet, strangely enough, here I am, as bent as they come.
Stupid Git!!
True!. I was into martial arts and soccer from primary school right through to the end of high school. I never played with dolls, never wore girls clothes and preferred spending my afternoons out in the bush with my friends, playing all sorts of boyish games. And yet… I turned out gay and my brother, the non-sporty, piano loving mummy hugging, affectionate one is straight, married, and the father of 3 children. Dr Phil really needs to do some more research before showering us with his his pseudo psycho-babble.
…… I’m surprised that the world is big enough to contain the ego and arrogance that is Dr. Phil. What a quack this guy is! But sadly, Americans need people like him and Oprah and countless others to tell them what to think and what to do otherwise they can’t function on their own. God forbid one child expresses his individuality or goes against the ‘norm’ otherwise it’s perceived as the end of the world or the end of the “great” American “society”. So the boy like girls toys? So what bloody what? Did it ever occur to him and the mother that if they just left it he might stop? He might not either but why should that worry her or Dr. Phil? She should (and him) be encouraging her child to be proud of who he is because – as all gay kids know – bullying will be part of his life. So isn’t it better to face up to bullies being strong, confident and self-assured rather than being cowardly, ashamed and insecure?
say what?. I am a straight acting gay male, not into anything feminine. However, when I grew up, I played with dolls and girly things, as well as the typical boy stuff as well.
In my later school years, I was actually greatful to have done those “girly” things because I feel, it made me more creative and in touch with my sensitive side.
My parents never stopped me from doing what I did, and I think i turned out pretty “normal”. People should be allowed to express themselves in whatever way they are comfortable.
McStupid. As gay parent’s to a 5 year old boy, my partner and I decided that our son would dictate his likes and dislikes. Liam is superactive, loves sports, and really loves cars, trains and aeroplanes. However, he can really get funky with his cousins’ dolls, and is very willing to swop one of his cars for a doll. Is he gay? Who knows? Do we care? Hell no!!! He will be who he chooses or is supposed to be. Do we care when people comment about the doll thing? F#$k no!!!! We remind them that we are his parents and that we have already raised a daughter together, who was an absolute tomboy, and is today the mother of her own child!
SO!!! PUFF AND PASS!!!!!
Give him guns!. I wonder if Dr Phil would ask this mother to take away toy guns, tanks, warplanes… because he feared he would become, god-forbid, violent.
Toys do not make the man (or woman). What you dress does not make you gay or straight. And there are millions of handsome, straight men wearing pink to prove my point. (Something that would have turned heads just a few decades ago.
When are these dumb pseudo-pop-intellectuals just going to let our children be themselves.