Nature or Nurture?

"No Amma, no pants! Ana ishio gwisgo skirt and tights"

happens to be the song pretty much every morning these days when I try to get Ana dressed for daycare. She seems to have developed a dislike for pants for some reason. All of her pants fit her fine and she does manage to wear them on and off during weekends, but, she is very picky about not wearing them to daycare everyday.

She is all of a little over 2½ years old.

Isn't that a bit early to have dress preferences? I asked myself... I don't remember having any particular likes or dislikes regarding clothes until I was much older... but then again, I don't have a good memory, neither does my mom, regarding this.

It can't be due to potty training as I had thought initially, because pants are easier to take off and pull back on (the elastic-waist ones ones that she has, at least) than tights and skirt.

I ended up sewing a few quick fleece skirts for her to satisfy this obsession and stocking up on pretty little toddler tights.

Now, it made me wonder if I inadvertently sent any messages about girls not wearing pants. Can't be. I wear pants myself most of the time. Am fairly sure her teacher in daycare doesn't send such messages. She wears pants most days herself too. And, Ana's classmates Emily, Sidney et al are trouser-or-overalls-clad girls...

Also, I am fairly certain they don't perpetuate gender stereotypes in her daycare. I have seen that she has easy access to Firefighter toys, Bob The Builder toys, Thomas, truck toys and whatnot, in addition to dolls and other girlie stuff... She has some trains and tools at home too.

And that's why it has been interesting for me to note Ana's distinct interest in dolls and all things girlie at this age.

Is it Nature? or Nurture?

Did I steer her towards girlie stuff because she sees me most of the time at home (more than she sees her dad who happens to use the power tools and fix things around the house) cooking and crafting and crocheting and knitting and thinks she has to do what mommy does? Or, is it some genetic thing that inclines her towards dolls and all things fluffy and pink?

It's not about ability to learn to do various tasks regardless of gender-association of those tasks. In a pinch, I can hammer a nail as needed or fix a broken hinge on the door or stick my hand in the dreaded toilet tank and jiggle the plug to fix the flow... now, do I enjoy doing those activities? Nope. Not one bit. My aptitude lies in artsy craftsy things and that is what I was wondering about...

I am sure it is only a phase... I am sure a few years into school she would be peer-pressured into activities that blur the lines of gender stereotyping and she might end up enjoying the trucks and race car type things that boys seem to naturally gravitate towards from early on...

But, it was interesting to note how her preferences are developing already.