Duggar Family Critics Think Jill Duggar Is Skirting Her Family’s Gender Roles by Allowing Her Son to Pick Out Her Earrings
Jill Duggar’s on the outs with the rest of the Duggar family. She’s taking to YouTube along with her husband, Derick Dillard, to talk about her decisions with her fans. While Jill seems to connect with a few of her siblings, it seems she’s mostly going her own way.
In October 2020, Jill posted a photo to Instagram showing her son, Samuel, picking out her earrings. And Duggar family followers are shocked given how the rest of the Duggars feel about gender roles. Here’s what’s happening.
The Duggar family abides by strict gender roles
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar abide by evangelical Christian beliefs, and they’ve made that clear for over a decade with their TLC shows. The couple believes that the men in the household should be the breadwinners, and the women are the ones to take care of the home and bear children.
Not only that, but the Duggar girls grew up with a strict dress code. They were not allowed to wear pants, shorts, or tops that showed off their shoulders or neckline for fear of “defrauding” the men around them.
Michelle and Jim Bob have never admitted that they treat their kids differently based on gender. But Michelle’s talked about how she treats Jim Bob in the past — and she made it clear she believes she’s responsible for fulfilling his sexual desires when he wants.
“Be available,” Michelle told Today. “Anyone can fix him lunch, but only one person can meet that physical need of love that he has, and you always need to be available when he calls.”
Jill Duggar allows her son, Samuel, to pick out her earrings
While Jill no longer takes part in filming Counting On and she takes many leaps away from her famous family, she’s still quite religious. She and Derick still believe in consulting the Bible in everything they do. And it’s likely Jill still has some traditional gender role ideas instilled in her from her upbringing.
With that said, it seems she’s allowing her 3-year-old son, Sam, to get well-acquainted with jewelry. She posted a photo to Instagram on Oct. 15 showing Sam picking out earrings and putting them in her ears.
“‘Mommy, can I put your earrings in?’ Every day he asks to pick them out and put them in,” Jill captioned the post. “I love his focused face … seriously the cutest!”
Jill’s fans loved the post, too.
“That is something that he is likes to do that,” a fan commented. “Most little boy’s could care less.”
“He’s very caring,” another wrote. “Perhaps he’ll be a nurse someday!”
Duggar family critics think Jill’s going against her family with this decision
While Jill’s just encouraging her child to be himself and engage in the activities he enjoys, Duggar family critics think this shows serious personal growth for Jill. Because Sam’s dealing with earrings, many suspect Jim Bob and Michelle would never allow this behavior from their sons.
“I think that’s great but shocking,” a Reddit user noted.
“I think this is great,” another added. “My son used to always pick out my mom’s jewelry. I unfortunately don’t wear any. But he’d feel so special when he’d pick something and she’d wear it.”
And another wrote that “letting her son pick out and put her jewelry on for her seems to fly in the face of the strict gender roles [the Duggars] live by.”
We’re glad Jill’s letting her kids be kids, no matter what they’re into at the moment. We’re excited to see more of her parenting decisions in the future!
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