What does it signify when a child chooses to role play a "neutral" character?
Asked by
serenade (
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May 5th, 2013
from iPhone
I was playing with my niece and nephew the other day. They are 6 and 4 respectively and are being indoctrinated into the Star Wars series. My nephew in his role play decided to be R2D2. (All. Day. Long.) It reminded me that when I played house with my sibling and our friends, I was always the dog. So does this signify anything?
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13 Answers
R2D2 is a popular character. It doesn’t mean anything.
The kids are 6 and 4. Play means “play”. It doesn’t have any deep psychological significance unless they’re hurting someone or a pet. Let them enjoy their play.
For whatever reason in your nephew’s imaginative little mind, he’s drawn to the little bot which, as @Blackberry says, is a very popular SW character. Maybe he likes the sounds it makes. Or maybe he just likes fearless little bots. I’m no child psychologist, but I think you have nothing to be concerned about. May THE FORCE be with you and your little nephew.
I’m not concerned. Just curious. It’s a role I never even thought to choose.
Im curious, what kinda RPing are you doing with SW?
He probably really is attracted to techy like things and has no care to be the ultimate known villain or the ultimate known hero (as is typically the case right?)
Not everything a child does has some significant deeper meaning.
It means nothing, as far as I can see. Think back, what did you choose?
R2D2 is in all of the 6 movies, and very useful character with lots of gadgets and gizmos.
Your nephew checked his cis-male privilege and he has realized that gender is a social construct. He does not want to play as characters such as Darth Vader or Leia because he does not want to perpetuate traditional gender roles, so instead he chose a gender neutral character.
R2D2 isn’t neutral; he plays a long game. Remember, he watched Anakin grow up and become Darth Vader. He watched the rise of the Empire. And unlike C3PO, he didn’t get a memory wipe. Always in the right place at the right time, like at the Skywalker’s farm just before the stormtroopers came, always having the right knowledge/skills for any situation, yet easily overlooked and underestimated.
A child may not know all that (many adult Star Wars fans don’t) but even a child can see that R2 is clever. R2 doesn’t need a blaster or light sabre to defeat his enemies; just his wits.
That, and he can say all sorts of foul things without getting reprimanded for being vulgar.
@jerv I would like to have had closed captioning for R2D2, but for the most part I got the message from the bleeps.
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