Stop forcing stereotypes on our youth
- por: Victoria Garbo
- destinatário: Everyone who thinks that gender separation at a young age is wrong
We ask that Trek Bikes stop the production of gender specific bicycle frames for children and instead, design a universal frame for each child size (12", 16", 20", 24") without specifying gender. The reasons are as follows:
1. Male and female children have the same physiology. The reasons to have modified frames are reasons that start well into puberty, such as, muscle build and the size of a body. With children, males and females grow at the same rate up until puberty. The body size, geometry and flexibility, obviously differ, but from child to child, no from gender to gender.
2. By defining certain bike frames and colors as "boy" or "girl", you are subjecting the children to the stereotypes that come with labeling certain bikes as so, forcing the children to conform to the social stereotypes at a young age.
3. By subjecting children to these stereotypes, it gives an advantage and an opportunity for other children to mock and bully the choice of a childs bike.
4. Although some kids do prefer the gender specific colors, we request universal colors so that children have the option of choosing a different color.
We are not asking for the entire line of bikes to be redesigned, all we are asking is that, by making one frame design in gender non-specific colors, we can reduce the pressure on young men and women to strictly conform to society's prescribed gender roles.
We the undersigned ask that Trek Bikes stop the production of gender specific bicycle frames for children and instead, design a universal frame for each child size (12", 16", 20", 24") without specifying gender. The reasons are as follows:
1. Male and female children have the same physiology. The reasons to have modified frames are reasons that start well into puberty, such as, muscle build and the size of a body. With children, males and females grow at the same rate up until puberty. The body size, geometry and flexibility, obviously differ, but from child to child, no from gender to gender.
2. By defining certain bike frames and colors as "boy" or "girl", you are subjecting the children to the stereotypes that come with labeling certain bikes as so, forcing the children to conform to the social stereotypes at a young age.
3. By subjecting children to these stereotypes, it gives an advantage and an opportunity for other children to mock and bully the choice of a childs bike.
4. Although some kids do prefer the gender specific colors, we request universal colors so that children have the option of choosing a different color.
We are not asking for the entire line of bikes to be redesigned, all we are asking is that, by making one frame design in gender non-specific colors, we can reduce the pressure on young men and women to strictly conform to society's prescribed gender roles.
