And a very good afternoon to you all :o)
Looking at the image for the "Life & Style" section reminded me of a recent conversation over dinner with a group of friends from various backgrounds and with various ideas and conceptions (most of which we all seem to disagree on to some extent) where the subject of gender fluidity was raised.
Being generally biased (all of us) and some of us possibly a tiny bit worse for wear due to the alcohol intake, we seemed unable to find any middle ground - it was either 100% there is room (and possibly a need) for gender fluidity in today's society (the western bit anyway...) or 100% there is absolutely no place for gender fluidity - one is either male with all the 'manly' tracts associated with said gender, or 100% female with similar feminine requirements.
I am definitely biased towards the "yes, there is a place for it" vote, but then I do paint my nails, wear the odd bit of 'cosmetic refinement' (yeah, OK, call it slap) and am happy to float between M and F as circumstances dictate or as my fancy takes me when no other circumstances prevail.
One of our female friends is also in the "yes" camp and got quite annoyed with her DP who would only laugh at comments or arguments rather than come up with anything sensible. I think this made her harden even more towards the "yes" vote rather than settle where she actually meant to be...
Possibly unsurprisingly the split was about 50/50 although with more females in the "yes" camp, and more males in the "no" camp. No-one appeared to be in the nether regions of "don't know, not sure, don't care, etc."
So - gender fluidity - is there a place for it? Is there a time/place when there is absolutely no place for it (perhaps using the public loos in Debenhams?) Can it help or only hinder? Are men frightened of it?
Answers on a postcard to te usual address please...