Jennifer Newsom says she gives sons dolls, swaps genders in stories to challenge norms

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA: Jennifer Siebel Newsom, wife of California Governor Gavin Newsom, is drawing attention for her parenting approach after sharing how she raises her sons with a focus on breaking traditional gender roles.

In a viral video circulating on social media, she is seen speaking about giving her boys dolls and even changing storylines while reading to them to shift how they see gender.

Jennifer Siebel Newsom explains why she gives her boys dolls

Jennifer said she introduces her sons to toys typically associated with girls to help them understand care and empathy from a young age. 

“I’ve given our boys dolls… even if they tear the head off… to learn that care and caregiving is not just an activity reserved for women,” she said. Jennifer and Gavin share two sons, Hunter Newsom and Dutch William Newsom, and two daughters, Montana Tessa Newsom and Brooklynn Stacia Newsom. 

For her, the idea is simple. She wants her children to grow up seeing caregiving as something everyone can do, not something tied to gender.

She also spoke about small but deliberate changes she makes during everyday moments, especially while reading with her children.

Jennifer Siebel Newsom wants her sons to learn that women can be the center of a story

One of the ways Jennifer says she challenges traditional thinking is by altering characters in books.

“If I’m reading a book and the protagonist is a male, I just change the ‘he’ to a ‘she’,” she said.

She explained that this helps normalize the idea that women can be at the center of stories, something she feels is still not as common as it should be.

“It normalizes for my sons that women can be the center of a story,” she added.

According to her, these small shifts can shape how children view the world as they grow older. She described the current moment as a turning point in how society understands gender.

“We’re in this place in history where we’re recognizing what it is to ultimately deconstruct these gender roles. That’s exciting to me,” she said.

Jennifer Siebel Newsom's work on gender issues and classroom presence

Jennifer is not just speaking about these ideas at home. She is also a filmmaker and the founder of The Representation Project, a non-profit focused on gender issues.

Over the years, she has directed several documentaries that explore topics like gender inequality and masculinity. Some of her well-known works include ‘Miss Representation’, ‘The Mask You Live In’, and ‘The Great American Lie’.

Her films have made their way into classrooms as well. Educational guidance in California has recommended some of these documentaries for use in schools, where they are part of discussions around gender and social issues.

The Representation Project, which she founded in 2011, licenses these films and related curriculum materials to schools, universities, and other groups. According to its website, screening and licensing packages range from $49 to $1,500.

A 2014 tax filing from the organization noted that its films and curriculum had been used in around 1,000 public schools across California.