by Brittany Finch

Created on: November 19, 2008

When I first started dating the man I would later marry, there was a brief moment that passed between us that has stayed with me ever since. We were getting ready to go out when he found that a pair of his favorite jeans had a tear in the rear-end. I told him that I could fix it for him, and I'll admit that I felt a little smug at the idea of being able to do something that he couldn't.

But then he surprised me.

"I know how to sew." He said, holding his head high, clearly enjoying the fact that I hadn't expected that. And he did, indeed, know how to sew and was just as good at it as I was. Many of the guys I'd ever known had been completely helpless when faced with a needle and thread- with the exception of my own little brother. That's when I started thinking about all the barriers that still have not come down after all these years of fighting so hard for equality. In this case, it's men who are getting the short end of the stick.

It's time we face the fact that we are entering an era when "gender roles" are becoming blurred, if not eradicated. Men are more involved than ever in family life and have a more active role in the raising of their children. As women establish themselves in the workplace, Dads now have the option of being the ones to stay home and care for the kids. Women can be mechanics if they want and men can be hairdressers, but still somebody pitches a fit if a young boy shows an interest in baby dolls!

I'd like to say, once and for all, that if boys do the things that have been typecast as "girl things" it does NOT put their manhood at risk. It will not "make" them gay because if they're going to be gay then there's nothing that you can do to stop it anyways. And the experts agree! The idea is that in this day and age where there are more deadbeat dads than ever, it's important to allow boys to develop their ability to nurture as well as provide, just the same as girls.

So this Christmas when you see a sewing machine on your boys' list and a toolbox on your girls' don't hesitate to allow them to explore those interests. Who knows, maybe you'll reap more benefits than you ever imagined from being more open minded? Your son could be the next millionaire designer and your daughter could be a female Chip Foose! Or, at worst, your son won't hassel you to fix his torn clothing and your daughter can't act clueless when something happens to the family car! All I know is that the day I discovered that my future husband could sew- I loved him even more.

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