Please or to access all these features

Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

genderqueer

79 replies

BrookeDavies · 26/06/2015 20:47

I read a Jack Monroe article today where she talked of how as a child she wanted to do 'boy' things / wear 'boy' clothes and ergo be a boy. But now, she no longer wants to be a boy/man as she's comfortable with who she is as an individual.

I feel so heartened by her story and people like Tyler Ford and even Miley Cirus. It feels so much more in line with my own view that gender is a social construct.

Personally, I hope that this encourages kids who feel a bit different to learn to accept, embrace and be who they are without the need for difficult and intrusive surgery and drugs.

OP posts:
WhirlpoolGalaxyM51 · 26/06/2015 20:57

"Men who feel feminine have a lot less freedom to be that."

YY very true. It all went backwards didn't it, the 70s and 80s there was loads of acceptance of all sorts of ways of presenting yourself for both men and women, it all seemed to be heading somewhere good and then brakes on and into reverse, what happened.

RolyPolierThanThou · 26/06/2015 20:54

I was a child like this. I had short hair until I was 17. I rejected girlish things. Refused to wear skirts or dresses except uniform. Played with cars and had male friends. Some of their parents had no idea i was even a girl as my name did not give it away.

And yet I do not feel myself to BE male. I am happy as a woman even though I'm not the spa loving, make up wearing, nice nails, sort of gal. im still a tomboy but fortunately I'm allowed to be and still be a woman. Men who feel feminine have a lot less freedom to be that.

WhirlpoolGalaxyM51 · 26/06/2015 20:54

There shouldn't be these divisions between "boy" things and clothes and whatnot in the first place is what I think.

If there wasn't such huge separation and segregation of "stuff" then little children wouldn't have to "choose" between "boys things" and "girls things" it would all be "childs things" and do whatever you fancy.

That's what I think anyway.

I don't know who Jack Monroe or Tyler Ford are BTW and only vaguely know who miley cirus is so not sure what they've been up to around this, nor have I read the article in the OP!

Shallishanti · 26/06/2015 20:51

hear, hear
what we could do with is this concept popularised through children's books, toys, clothes, films....