Action Man? G.I. Joe? What's that? Bwahahahaaaa! Yeah, I loved G.I. Joe, Transformers, etc, etc, etc. But, like I suspect was the case for you, my "tomboyish-ness" went far deeper than just playing with "boy" toys and not liking "girl" clothes. I truly thought of myself as a boy mentally. I knew I wasn't, and I never wanted to change myself physically, but in my mind, even now, when I think back on my childhood, I realize that I hear "when I was a little boy" in my head if I'm honest.
Some years ago, I noticed that I always started stories of my youth with "when I was little" or "when I was about seven" or "when I was a little kid" and never, ever did I say "when I was a little girl." So I tried it out. It felt wrong. It still does. It's simply not the truth as I know it.
I find it sad how many of us that don't quite fit the mold have strong negative associations with school or church or what have you simply based on the fact that we were forced into clothes that made us feel uncomfortable. I mean, really. What harm is there in letting a female wear trousers? Or in allowing a male child to wear a dress, for that matter? I hope one day we can accept both. The "tomboy," at least, is leaps and bounds ahead of the "effeminate" male in terms of acceptance, but one day I hope none of this will matter and we will let school be about school and not gender. That day is a long way off, I know, but I can hope, right?
Now, as for those trousers (and yes, I know the UK vernacular pretty well, my friend), I also am most comfortable that way. It's a moot point for me now days, as I wear scrubs most of the time and they are pretty damn gender neutral (you'd never catch me in those trendy ones), but right now I'm wearing camouflage shorts and a grey t-shirt with a LEGO man on it. This, or something similar, is my usual wardrobe outside of work. Now, every once in a while, I actually enjoy dressing up, but that's because it means I'm going to the theater or the Moulin Rouge or some other amazing place, and that's nice. Otherwise? Blech.
I am 100% comfortable with who I am, and I'm so grateful not to be young anymore. I'm so happy to be able to live as I see fit and not be under the boot of others and their expectations of me. I wouldn't mind having youth, but youth is truly wasted on the young. Sigh...
By the way, I'm screening comments here now because I made this post public. I don't care who knows this and I'm happy to put it out there just in case it might help someone else.
Re: Action ManjackwabbitOctober 18 2011, 21:16:46 UTC
I know who he is! :) Oh! I wonder if I can find that website that has all the UK G.I. Joe comics online again...hm...I don't think I bookmarked it, but...let me dig a bit.
Some years ago, I noticed that I always started stories of my youth with "when I was little" or "when I was about seven" or "when I was a little kid" and never, ever did I say "when I was a little girl." So I tried it out. It felt wrong. It still does. It's simply not the truth as I know it.
I find it sad how many of us that don't quite fit the mold have strong negative associations with school or church or what have you simply based on the fact that we were forced into clothes that made us feel uncomfortable. I mean, really. What harm is there in letting a female wear trousers? Or in allowing a male child to wear a dress, for that matter? I hope one day we can accept both. The "tomboy," at least, is leaps and bounds ahead of the "effeminate" male in terms of acceptance, but one day I hope none of this will matter and we will let school be about school and not gender. That day is a long way off, I know, but I can hope, right?
Now, as for those trousers (and yes, I know the UK vernacular pretty well, my friend), I also am most comfortable that way. It's a moot point for me now days, as I wear scrubs most of the time and they are pretty damn gender neutral (you'd never catch me in those trendy ones), but right now I'm wearing camouflage shorts and a grey t-shirt with a LEGO man on it. This, or something similar, is my usual wardrobe outside of work. Now, every once in a while, I actually enjoy dressing up, but that's because it means I'm going to the theater or the Moulin Rouge or some other amazing place, and that's nice. Otherwise? Blech.
I am 100% comfortable with who I am, and I'm so grateful not to be young anymore. I'm so happy to be able to live as I see fit and not be under the boot of others and their expectations of me. I wouldn't mind having youth, but youth is truly wasted on the young. Sigh...
By the way, I'm screening comments here now because I made this post public. I don't care who knows this and I'm happy to put it out there just in case it might help someone else.
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