I was reassured of my gender identity in the following events.
The most painful was when i was taken at the age of five to get holes pierced in my ears to poke small silver ornaments through so that i could be differentiated from boys.
The other was a chore when i was 'encouraged to start', though i regret discontinuing at this age. It was the classical dance classes i was asked to join.
I was also never allowed to travel by public transport during the day or night.
Whenever anyone would buy presents they always coincidently chose the colours pink, purple or other feminine colours. So my wadrobe or toy things were always colour co-ordinated.
During my school days when choosing subjects some were considered boy subjects - maths, economics, accounts whereas girls chose art subjects instead.
The most painful was when i was taken at the age of five to get holes pierced in my ears to poke small silver ornaments through so that i could be differentiated from boys.
The other was a chore when i was 'encouraged to start', though i regret discontinuing at this age. It was the classical dance classes i was asked to join.
I was also never allowed to travel by public transport during the day or night.
Whenever anyone would buy presents they always coincidently chose the colours pink, purple or other feminine colours. So my wadrobe or toy things were always colour co-ordinated.
During my school days when choosing subjects some were considered boy subjects - maths, economics, accounts whereas girls chose art subjects instead.
I can so relate to the 'subjects' stereotype that you just mentioned. I chose arts as my stream after my tenth, for the very simple reason that I had no interest to continue studying chemistry and maths when I've got an open option to discontinue. But others were more concerned about how i chose the girly subjects over Maths and Physics. Even in class I was among the only three boys in a class of thirty. It was worse when i announced my desire to pursue design after my XIIth, some tried convincing me to prepare for the civil services (:( yuck!!) and the others convinced themselves that I was gay.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it was a difficult time then Abhishek, Though i'm sure you've realised now that you're a part of the design family you will not be discriminated the same way. Besides, there's always hope that the world is changing. :)
ReplyDelete"IT IS NOT SAFE FOR GIRLS"....it so annoying to listen to this everytime i wish to travel in a public transport, walk back home alone, go out after nine, talk to strangers or even pursue journalism or any media centric discipline as a career
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to know that who our environment decides our gender. They decide what we like and what we dont, and how we also get caught in this cycle and end up doing the same with others.
ReplyDeleteWhat are your thoughts on that?