For boys or for girls? ABC wants to know.

Dear Diary,
Today's video is from the ABC series "What Would You Do?". From the YouTube programme description:

What Would You Do? (WWYD) is a hidden camera show, hosted by ABC News correspondent John Quinones, in which unknowing bystanders are placed in uncomfortable, and often compromising real world scenarios in public. WWYD’s hidden cameras focus on the average person’s responses and reactions to these issues of social responsibility. The individuals on this hidden camera show are forced to make tough calls when directly faced with situations of racism, violence, hate crimes, and other hot button cultural issues.

The programme tries to be balanced by presenting both a boy and a girl but cards are stacked in the girl's favour and against the boy. Society finds it acceptable for a girl to act like a boy and to show interest in traditionally boy things. Such a girl is called a 'tomboy' and slides by, pretty much unscathed. However, a boy who shows interest in girl things is frowned upon and shamed. He is called a 'sissy'. The social stigma against the boy is overwhelming. 

There is unstated but strong undercurrent of homophobia in this programme. Although she never says it directly, the "mother" implies that her fear that the child will end up being gay if s/he doesn't conform to societal gender roles. She acts like turning out gay is the worst thing that could possibly happen to her child. None of the customers who interact with her attempt to discover what her implied fear might be; they seem to instinctively understand. But, not to worry, after all, their children came out fine (ie, not gay).

The programme is worth a watch to develop insight into a situation, which on the face of it, seems so simple but runs deep in both child and adult.




On the lighter side:




Watching videos like these is sometimes like looking in a mirror...

Hans



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