Her World Of Motoring

XX = XY?

Unlike mathematical equations, gender stereotyping has a less definite answer.

- Lynn Tan

AN episode from when my daughter was in preschool still remains vivid in my mind.

She came home from school and told me that one of her teachers commented during play time that girls should play with dolls and boys should play with cars. I was incensed. It took every ounce of self-restraint to keep me from marching into the classroom and confronting the teacher who made the comment.

Perhaps this can be attributed to my upbringing. Growing up, I was never told what I could or could not do “because I’m a girl”.

I could play with my Barbie dolls one day, and die-cast cars the next. I was never made to buy a pink school bag if I preferred a blue one. And when I said I wanted to go racing, nobody stopped me “because I’m a girl”.

Of course, coming from a family of car enthusiasts helped.