6-year-old boy was being bullied for wearing pink at school — his dad's savage response is top-notch parenting

We will have a long way to go as a society to eradicate gender stereotypes from roots. Outdated mindsets about roles, preferences and even chores being assigned based on gender is simply disrespectful in a modern era. These habits need to be unlearned by the older generations. Younger generations, on the other hand, have fresh minds and can be steered away from being taught such discrimination. When dad Doug Weaver (@dougweaverart) learned that his 6-year-old son, Finley, was being bullied for wearing the color pink, he responded most encouragingly and astoundingly. The dad opted to support his son and give back to bullies through a solid action.

In a video on TikTok, Weaver recalled his son being called out for wearing pink. “As soon as my son started coming home from school with that message when his peers started saying that he shouldn't wear pink and that unicorns were for girls, I added so much pink to my wardrobe. I 'pinkified' my life,” he exclaimed. He even said that he was happy to paint his nails if his son wanted to paint his own to support and be there for the boy. “The larger conversation I have with my son is that it is a fight worth fighting,” the dad noted. The dad poignantly mentioned that even the personality and nature of people are rejected along with their actions. He added that it is not so much to defy the actions but about defying the rejection.

“While they’re getting bullied for what they wear now, they’re going to get bullied for who they are later,” he explained. Weaver urged people to let kids be themselves lest they believe that changing is the solution and they disrupt who they really are. “That’s why you have those young men who are chasing the idea of what a man is. They will never be manly enough to please society,” he said. The dad also pointed out that in the bargain, these bright kids lose their happiness and have the sorrow of not being themselves. Weaver explained to his son that it’s not just about what boys should wear but another important learning.

“People that want to take colors away also want to take away his creativity, his kindness and everything that's soft inside of him,” the dad said. “There will always be people who criticize him for being who he is because they are trying so hard to be what they think a man is supposed to be,” Weaver remarked. The dad explained the importance of having grown men defy gender expectations and other stereotypes.

“Society will try to beat boys down until they fall in line,” the dad revealed. He shared that having his son watch him defy these stereotypes will give him an understanding of the "strength and tenacity” it takes to be oneself. Several parents and others were happy to hear the dad’s point of view. His idea of letting kids grow to be who they are and not suppressing it resonated with many. @janette_not_janet said, “As a mom with a young boy, this gives me so much hope in raising a sensitive and creative son.” @tattooedlala added, “What a fantastic view on raising boys.”

You can follow Doug Weaver (@dougweaverart) on TikTok for more content on parenting.