When I first heard my son say, “Mom, I want to take ballet lessons,” my heart swelled with pride. Here was my child, unafraid to explore something new, something that spoke to his creativity and passion. But that pride quickly turned to concern when I saw my husband’s reaction. His face tightened, his jaw clenched, and he muttered, “Ballet? For a boy? That’s not… normal.”
Let me be clear: my husband is not a bad person. He’s a loving father, a supportive partner, and someone who genuinely wants the best for our family. But his reaction to our son’s interest in ballet revealed something deeper—a set of ingrained societal expectations that, whether we like it or not, still shape how we view gender roles.
Ballet, like many art forms, has long been associated with femininity. But the truth is, ballet is one of the most physically demanding disciplines out there. It requires strength, precision, and discipline—qualities that are not exclusive to any gender. Yet, the stigma persists. Boys who dance are often labeled as “soft” or “different,” and that stigma can be enough to discourage them from pursuing something they love.
As a parent, my instinct is to protect my child from anything that might cause him pain or judgment. But I also know that shielding him from the world isn’t the answer. Instead, I want to teach him to embrace who he is, to follow his passions, and to stand tall in the face of ignorance.
My husband’s reaction shook me because it reminded me of how deeply these biases run. Even in 2025, when we like to think we’ve moved beyond outdated gender norms, they still linger in subtle, insidious ways. It’s not enough to say, “Let boys be boys” or “Let girls be girls.” We need to let kids be *themselves*, free from the constraints of what society deems “appropriate.”
So, here’s what I’ve decided: my son will take ballet lessons. He’ll learn to pirouette and plié, to express himself through movement, and to challenge the stereotypes that try to box him in. And as for my husband? We’ll have a conversation—one that’s long overdue—about why his reaction bothered me and how we can work together to support our son in becoming the person he’s meant to be.
Parenting is hard. It’s messy, emotional, and often uncomfortable. But it’s also an opportunity to grow, to question our own biases, and to create a world where our children can thrive as their authentic selves. My son wants to take ballet lessons, and I couldn’t be prouder. Now, it’s time for the rest of us to catch up.
