El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-09-14
Undue Emphasis Placed Upon Sex
OF Children Terminated By War
Parents Are Using More Sense Now in Bringing Up
Their Little Ones; Still More Would Stand
in Good Stead
in Good Stead.


/ DEFOkE the war we women were
/ - drowned in leisure We did not
realize it-and OF course every one Of
US will deny IL now-but there is
abundant proof that in the words Of
good old Dr. watts. satan found mis-
chief for idle hands 70 do.
+ For one thing. we built up an elab-
crate sex convention in regard TO
babies bonnets and other belongings
I We felt Il was absolutely necessary
for a girl baby 10 have a rosette over
each ear. bereft OF this the bonnet
was without sex and void
But we should have regarded it as
a sacrilege 70 thus adorn a small lord
I Of creation-eveu at the age OF six
weeks. No. he must have a rosetts on
the top OF his bonnet. so as 70 pre-
sent warlike and menacinE aspect
Feelings Were Hurt.
And II anyone gave boy baby a
baby a bonnet with one. every one
connected with that grossly insulted
infant had his or her feelings deeply
hurt
there. 6ver-emph asiLing the sex cues
rion while children were still in their
baby carriages With their first con-
scOus breaths girl babies were linz
plored 20 be refined, while boy
babies were entreated TO be brave. p
and take their castor oil like man.
UuconsciOusly each OF these small
unfortunates began storing up i'm
pressions that later on meant a ball
and chain on their heels Mary felt
/ she must be refined and little LADY
and 70 get her clothes dirty or her
hair rumpled was TO break all the
commandments at once
And John was equally wei OUT
fitted with a set OF false standards
that promised TO be as useful 20 him
+ through lie as milestone in swim
ming. Il wasn't necessary for him
70 be thoughtful. tactful or kind to
things weaker than himself. because
these things might convert him into
a sissy"
II he played with girls. or occasion
ally combed his hair. or stroked a
cat. these things we're dangerous man
ifestations Of possible sissyhood.
Looking Like Little Lady,
And who has not sympa thiZed with
the pale little girl denying herself
coveted exercise-eNercise that was
she might not rumple her clothes and
look less like a little LADY,
In trying to make John a kinder
sarten c1ve-man, TO preserve the mas
cSuline ideal and OF Mary an anaemlc
little fashion plate. that she might
grow up refined" parents wholly
lost sight OF the important thing
that 10 is better for children 70 grow
10 be vigorous healthy little animals
with no thought Of these artificial
distinctions at ALL
Questions Of sex loom on the hort
zOn soon enough and vast enough.
in all conscience, without anticipating
them with ribbons and sentiments
that might well be placed on the non
essential list.
History has not preserved the name
OF the woman who first conceived the
notion Of putting little girls into play
rompers, but she ought to have some
kind of medal conferred on her for
such long step in the right direc-
tion.
And IL we have been hidebouud In
the matter Of ribbons and sentiments.
we are doubly So in regard to games I
and toys. Many a little girl has Gov
eted a tool chest and louEed To- make .
dolls furniture and houses. only TO .
be told by her mother that such
things we're not intended for a little
girl
Tt IS a liberal and induIgeut mother I
who viii consent 90 her daughter 7
playing blind mans buff. 7 spy. or /
prisoners base anywhere within ear