Sir, – Contrary to what Gareth P Keeley (December 5th) claims, opposing gender stereotyping is about celebrating, not denying, diversity. Human individuals are different, but the gender stereotypes put all boys into one very rigidly defined box, and all girls into another box, where no diversity is allowed within those boxes. And may God protect the poor little boy who actually likes pink and wants to play with dolls, because this sort of behaviour is absolutely not tolerated in our society. This intolerance is reinforced by the extreme stereotypes we find in our shops and on television shows. For the sake of diversity, is it too much to ask that the full range of normal behaviour is permitted? – Yours, etc,
JONIVAR SKULLERUD,
Sandymount,
Dublin 4.
Sir, – Dr Keeley writes, “it cannot be a good idea to use social conditioning to frustrate strong biological impulses”. To what “impulses” is he referring? The “impulse” to wear pink dresses and play with dolls? The “impulse” to play with tractors? – Yours, etc,
JAMES ANDREW RYAN,
Corbally,
Limerick.