Blog #5

An English nursery rhyme says that boys are made of "snake and snail and puppy dogs' tails," while girls are made of "sugar and spice and everything nice." What indirect, or unconscious, gender identity instruction is being given through this rhyme? Can you give examples of similar rhymes or proverbs in your language or culture? What indirect gender identity instruction do they provide?
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Boys and girls are totally different genders that is the natural law of the universe. According to the legend, God forms Adam, who is the symbol of boys, from the dust of the ground and places him in the Garden of Eden where he needed to cultivate it and take care of it. So he needs to have good health and acumen like the snake. Besides, he should have strength and stamina as the snail; furthermore, the faithfulness of dogs is very necessary. That means men should be strong, decisive, patient and honest. On the other hand, Eva, is a symbol of girls, is created from one of Adam's ribs to be Adam's companion; she does not need to do anything but adds spice to Adam's life by being nice and sweet. Therefore, there is an English nursery rhyme says that boys are made of "snake and snail and puppy dogs' tails," while girls are made of "sugar and spice and everything nice.

In my country, there is a similar proverb that describes the beauty and nobility of girls is "Aristocratic blood girls". In addition, "Big macho boys" is the proverb that says boys should be strong, honorable and chivalrous.

In my opinion, all of the above rhymes and proverbs are good statements to describe identity instruction although there are different ideas about equality between men and women.