Gender & Christmas Shopping

I believe that times have changed. It seems that in the recent past most Americans were generally rather conservative. There have always been a few to push beyond the bounderies of the "norm". As we have developed more effificient ways of travel, more of the general public explores worlds, cultures and taboo practices than were readily available to the common man 50 years ago. This exposure to more of the world has caused people to question that which was taken for granted leading to enlightenment. However there is also a section of society that remains the same, closing themselves off from alternative ideas and customs. We all know that we are often afraid of the unknown. Casting it as far away as possible. These two groups that exist in America has broadened the gap between the extreme conservatives and the extreme liberal thinkers. This causes a huge dilemma when trying to raise children.
Many of those in power are conservative and it's hard to raise a child in a culture where opportunity is often diminished for the liberally thinking. This is my dilemma!
We are trying to raise healthy, honest, successful individuals who are proud of who they are. There are a growing number of educated parents who've decided to bring their children up in a non gender biased home. Fearful of constricting their child's individual personality and preference. This is not the popular method here amongst the highly religous community in North Carolina. For Christmas is it better to get your impressionable youngster the toy of their choice or the toy suitable for their specific gender? Especially when their more traditional, strongly gender biased grandparents will be present. Do you keep the peace and give your child the gift they don't appreciate as well, helping to introduce them into the role expected of them by society? Or do you get them the play kitchen, stir up a lot of trouble and teach them it is okay to be sound in your preferences whether accepted by the rest of the narrowminded, uneducated population? I mean if you think about it most of the finest chefs and world renowned bakers are male. Did their BURLY fathers get them suzie homemakers play kitchens for Christmas?