From: Molly
These are 2 girls I baby-sit: Caity (Left) and Ella (Right) Dietch. I asked their mom if I could photograph them in their princess attire while they were playing, seeing as almost every time I baby-sit them at least one of the two is dressed in full on princess gear. In their playroom, Caity and Ella have a castle, a kitchen, magic fairy wands, and numerous other toys. However, their parents didn't only supply them with "feminine" toys, they were also supplied with "masculine" toys. I was talking to their mom about the blog assignment, and how children are often given toys based on their gender, and she told me that Caity and Ella had both grown up with a tool box, a tool bench, and a train set, but took no interest in any of them. Their younger brother jack is the complete opposite. He only plays with the trains and toolbox, and can occasionally be seen in the plastic kitchen micro waving his stuffed animal. The girls are depicted well in the photo; fun, playful, and colorful, which exudes the innocence of young girls. I tried to take the photo at an angle looking down upon them to show their vulnerability and innocence of youth, but Ella's eyes kept rolling to the back of her head making her look anything but innocent. Caity and Ella are growing up in a house that support them in whatever endeavors they choose; both of their parents are involved and accepting. The sisters are definitely not tomboys, but are both adventurous and strong willed (just try putting them to bed!) While their appearances portray feminine characteristics, the girls are very athletic (both of their parents are triathletes) and very strong witted. I truly believe that parenting and gender socialization go hand in hand; if you give your children the freedom to choose their path in life, while supporting them with good guidance, they can grasp the best qualities associated with both genders.