“Girls should pursue worthy hobbies and so should boys”

I like Neylan McBaine.  She’s very bright.  I think she has a lot to offer, I agree with a great deal of what she has to say, and I recognize her as being on the same side.

I’m somewhat bemused by the controversy reflected in this piece, though, and by some of the comments that follow it:

http://www.neylanmcbaine.com/2015/01/girls-should-pursue-worthy-hobbies-and-so-should-boys.html

I think that the contrast between the two articles is certainly worthy of discussion, but I’m not quite sure that I understand the angst and even the anger that I’ve seen in some quarters (not merely at Neylan McBaine’s site) that they’ve stirred up.

Now, granted, I am — obviously — a man.  Moreover, I grew up without sisters, and I have no daughters.  (I’ve lamented the relative paucity of  females in my family.  Really, I have.  But that’s my situation.)  So perhaps I’m insensitive.  In fact, of course, to some of my critics, there’s no “if” about that; I’m perhaps the most insensitive human in North America.  I did, however — some of their suspicions notwithstanding — have a mother.  And I think she liked me.

I’m strongly in favor of encouraging young women to pursue any interests they might have, and to be strong and independent.  One of the many reasons that I love my wife is that she has those qualities, upon which I rely more than perhaps I should.  (I’d be lost without her.)  But, that said, these are simply two positive articles, written by two different authors and taking two rather different approaches.  I wonder if more isn’t being read into them than should be.  I wonder if some, perhaps, should be slower to take offense.

What do you think?