Results: Free To Be ...You And Me
Thank you to wiltedviolet, who gave me the idea for this survey. I strongly believe that in order to bring up well-adjusted, happy and successful children, we have to allow them to express themselves and explore their possibilities. We have to believe that as children, anything and everything is possible. We have to love, encourage and support them, no matter where that path takes them. It is, after all, their lives--not ours. And before some of you get all up in arms and start saying "what if they want to become a murderer??", I am talking about living their lives free of expectations and restrictions of choice--not doing something horrid and illegal.
1.
1.
Free To Be...You And Me was a book and record project first founded in 1972, started by actress Marlo Thomas , who piloted the project when her niece was young. Marlo found that there were no resources out there that were not gender-specific. She wanted to teach her niece about life, and that it was OK to refute or reject the traditional gender roles that were illustrated in books. Did you ever read or listen to this collection?
No
50%
•
1013 votes
My children did
4%
•
84 votes
Both myself and my children did
5%
•
109 votes
Never heard of it
31%
•
642 votes
I knew of it, but never read/listened to it
10%
•
196 votes
2.
2.
Free To Be...You And Me was a collection of readings, poems and songs performed by celebrities, with some of the more notable songs including "It's All Right to Cry," sung by football hero Rosey Grier; the title track by the New Seekers; "Helping," a Shel Silverstein poem performed by Tom Smothers; "Sisters and Brothers" by the Voices of East Harlem; and "When We Grow Up" performed by Diana Ross on the album and by Roberta Flack and a teenage Michael Jackson on the special. The album and book, are still sold to this day, celebrating its 40th anniversary a few years ago, with a live event that reunited many of the original participants. Which of these Free To Be...You And Me facts are you aware of? Besides the original book and recording, there was also a 1974 TV movie, a play in 1991 and Free To Be...A Family in 1988
5%
•
105 votes
1974 TV movie won Prime time Emmy for outstanding children's programming and Peabody Award
6%
•
117 votes
Critic Kyle Smith from the New York Post claimed the project "emasculated men"
3%
•
65 votes
The children pictured on the original LP jacket were schoolmates of Abigail, Robin, and David Pogrebin, children of Letty Cottin Pogrebin, then editor of Ms.. Most of the children attended Corlears School.
4%
•
72 votes
The Free To Be Foundation was incorporated in 1973 to develop and market educational products that challenge stereotypes, fight discrimination, and encourage individuality and the freedom to pursue ones talents and dreams
4%
•
80 votes
Marlo Thomas is lifelong friends with Gloria Steinem, the head of the Ms. Foundation
6%
•
131 votes
Not aware of any of these facts
81%
•
1647 votes
3.
3.
The project encouraged children to express themselves and believe that they can do anything they want to do in life. encouraging post 1960's gender neutrality, saluting values such as individuality, tolerance, and comfort with one's identity. In our present day, this concept is still as important and relevant as it was back then. While great strides have been made recent years to encourage children to feel free to be who they feel they are, and make every child feel safe to be who they are, we still have a ways to go. Which of these viewpoints most closely mirrors what you feel? Every child should be encouraged and nurtured to be who they feel they should be--regardless of gender, sexuality or other constraints
37%
•
762 votes
All nonsense--boys should be boys and girls should be girls and they should be raised with these values
15%
•
312 votes
Children should be raised to believe in themselves, but gender and sexuality are areas that should not be explored
10%
•
208 votes
Not sure what I believe
35%
•
714 votes
Other (please specify)
2%
•
48 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
| 1.03% | 21 | |
| NA | 0.49% | 10 |
| n/a | 0.20% | 4 |
| I somewhat agree. | 0.05% | 1 |
| children should be taught to seek God first and to trust in him for guidance | 0.05% | 1 |
| Diet is one of THE most important factors in the development of children...with a hearty helping of love and respecting spirit the universe opens the door to a child's destiny. | 0.05% | 1 |
| to each his own | 0.05% | 1 |
| i think it is gone way of track these days. | 0.05% | 1 |
| teach them they can be anything they want; also to be proud of their gender, and the roles that go along with it | 0.05% | 1 |
| All the people who believe in this feces should be rounded up and put in prison until it's decided what should ultimately be done with them. | 0.05% | 1 |
| TSTC | 0.05% | 1 |
| a little of both, boys should be boys, but they also need to learn to be dads. girls should learn to be moms, but also know how to support themselves and their children if they need to. but children should that gay isn't a moral choice | 0.05% | 1 |
| People should mind their own business. | 0.05% | 1 |
| don't have kids | 0.05% | 1 |
| Gender neutral parenting is bullshit. I am working on my master's degree in psychology in clincal counseling and truly detest this bullshit. Let a child do what they want, do not force issues where non are needed. | 0.05% | 1 |
| Let kids be kids, and the parents should butt out most of the time! | 0.05% | 1 |
4.
4.
Gender-neutral parenting encompasses a wide range of beliefs and behaviors. Some stores have eliminated the traditional "boys" and "girls" aisles in toy departments, and while this move is seen as a positive step forward, the movement ranges from moderate to extreme ways of raising your children. Which of these gender-neutral viewpoints do you believe would be something you could see yourself as a parent following?
Choosing a gender-neutral name for your child (thereby not defining them by their name)
11%
•
224 votes
Saying no to "blue is for boys, pink is for girls" way of thinking in clothes, decor, etc
20%
•
406 votes
Declining to reveal a new baby's gender beyond immediate family
5%
•
101 votes
Raising your child in a gender-neutral environment, including schooling, etc
12%
•
237 votes
Buying toys and furnishings that do not define the child by gender (such as a princess bed for a boy)
12%
•
253 votes
Don't believe in any of these viewpoints
54%
•
1102 votes
Other (please specify)
6%
•
127 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
| 1.51% | 37 | |
| na | 1.10% | 27 |
| n/a | 0.78% | 19 |
| not sure | 0.08% | 2 |
| no opinion | 0.08% | 2 |
| not applicable | 0.08% | 2 |
| not a parent | 0.08% | 2 |
| Unsure | 0.08% | 2 |
| done with parenting | 0.04% | 1 |
| Not knowing the gender of the baby at all before the birth. | 0.04% | 1 |
| i believe that everyone should have a choice in life yes but we are born the way we are for a reason and it should not be changed but i do not believe in shunning someone for what they believe | 0.04% | 1 |
| Let the child just be a child. | 0.04% | 1 |
| unaware of any of these | 0.04% | 1 |
| TSTC | 0.04% | 1 |
| no comment | 0.04% | 1 |
| no more kids for me | 0.04% | 1 |
| 2 | 0.04% | 1 |
| People should mind their own business. | 0.04% | 1 |
| no kids | 0.04% | 1 |
| don't have kids | 0.04% | 1 |
| I don't know | 0.04% | 1 |
| i wouldnt go gender neutral as far as not buying pink or blue or barbies or heman but try to include all and both | 0.04% | 1 |
| n/a not a parent | 0.04% | 1 |
| none | 0.04% | 1 |
| My children are adults. | 0.04% | 1 |
| how wonderful we are all men now thanks to feminists. | 0.04% | 1 |
| I somewhat agree. | 0.04% | 1 |
| Don't throw out gender, but let child choose (ex:girl wants blue bedroom or car bed) | 0.04% | 1 |
| I am blessed by following my intuition and heart. | 0.04% | 1 |
| dont know | 0.04% | 1 |
| . | 0.04% | 1 |
| let them be themselves | 0.04% | 1 |
| DON'T KNOW | 0.04% | 1 |
| I think the pedulum willswing back again. What goes around comes around | 0.04% | 1 |
| not sure... | 0.04% | 1 |
| idk | 0.04% | 1 |
| Depends on the child's personality | 0.04% | 1 |
| cfdc | 0.04% | 1 |
| e i o | 0.04% | 1 |
| what ever the child ask for go with. ever child is different | 0.04% | 1 |
| Most of these scumbags will probably end up being imprisoned for life. | 0.04% | 1 |
| hhhh | 0.04% | 1 |
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