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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDear Customer Who Stuck Up For His Little Brother ...
You thought I didn't really notice. But I did. I wanted to high-five you.
Yesterday I had a pair of brothers in my store. One was maybe between 15 and 17. He was a wrestler at the local high school. Kind of tall, stocky and handsome. He had a younger brother, who was maybe about 10 to 12 years old. The only way to describe him was scrawny, neat, and very clean for a boy his age. They were talking about finding a game for the younger one, and he was absolutely insisting it be one with a female character. I don't know how many of y'all play games, but that isn't exactly easy. Eventually, I helped the brothers pick a game called "Mirror's Edge." The youngest was pretty excited about the game, and then he specifically asked me, "Do you have any girl color controllers?" I directed him to the only colored controllers we have, which include pink and purple ones. He grabbed the purple one, and informed me purple was his FAVORITE.
The boys had been taking awhile, so their father eventually came in. He saw the game, and the controller, and started in on the youngest about how he needs to pick something different. Something more manly. Something with guns and fighting, and certainly not a purple controller. He tried to convince him to get the new Zombie game "Dead Island" and the little boy just stood there repeating, "Dad, this is what I want, OK?" Eventually it turned into a full-blown argument complete with Dad threatening to whoop his son if he didn't choose different items.
That's when big brother stepped in. He said to his dad, "It's my money, it's my gift to him. If it's what he wants, I'm getting it for him, and if you're going to hit anyone for it, it's going to be me." Dad just gave his oldest son a strong stern stare-down, and then left the store. Little brother was crying quietly. I walked over and ruffled his hair (yes, this happened all in front of me). I said, "I'm a girl, and I like the color blue, and I like shooting games. There's nothing wrong with what you like. Even if it's different than what people think you should." I smiled, he smiled back (my heart melted!). Big brother then leaned down, kissed little brother on the head, and said, "Don't worry, dude."
*snip*
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristen-wolfe/dear-customer-who-stuck-u_b_1190690.html?ref=mostpopular
YAY BIG BROTHER
villager
(26,001 posts)Though I'd never scream about a videogame not being "manly" enough.
Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)Withywindle
(9,988 posts)Gender-policing of children and their playthings makes my skin crawl. It's bad enough that so many toys on the market reinforce rigid gender roles to begin with--but to have the parents abusively ENFORCE this? Gah.
I think it's good for boys to enjoy entertainment with female protagonists. Whole generations of girls have grown up following the adventures of Encyclopedia Brown, Frodo Baggins, Luke Skywalker, Harry Potter, Tintin, Spiderman, Doctor Who, you name it, with no great huge barrier to identification with the character just because of gender. Why can't boys do the same with female characters? Are boys' imaginations that much more inferior? I doubt it.
zipplewrath
(16,646 posts)This is a sign of a VERY serious problem.
msongs
(67,401 posts)zipplewrath
(16,646 posts)Sounds like there is some protection going on.
one_voice
(20,043 posts)I hope the younger brother has someone else looking out for him when the older brother isn't around.
It's horrible when it's your parent(s) doing the bullying.
As the father of two boys about the same age, I am horrified at this "man". A real piece of work and props to big brother, who knows full well what he is like - and does not like it one bit.
For some, denial is truly only a river.
bvar22
(39,909 posts)Everybody need to try to BE a Big Brother like THAT to everybody else in the World,
even themselves.
One Love!
Hotler
(11,420 posts)Well done big brother.
dsc
(52,160 posts)it sounds like his father is a piece of crap.
tavalon
(27,985 posts)is different in some way, whether it be gay or gender dysmorphia. I just hope with all the hope I can muster that the older brother is always able to be there for that kid. Because his dad sure won't be. Sheesh, it almost sounds like American Beauty. Sad. I hope they all make it out of that situation okay.
wryter2000
(46,039 posts)You go, big brother.