It's silly, I know

[eumelia]

I just came back from a small chore that didn't require me to walk very far, so I went outside barefoot.
As I was walking, a Granny with three children under the age of four passed me and the little girl (I'd wager she was about three) gave me a really long look and as they passed she looked up to her Granny, "Isn't she pretty?! Why is she barefoot?"
"I don't know" replied the Granny, "Maybe she just likes to be barefoot"
"Can I cut my hair like her?" (I'm not shaved at the moment, merely short and gel spiked).
The Granny tossed me an exasperated look.

I feel so validated!

I'm wearing a pastel green shirt and bubble-gum pink skirt (yes, I can hear all of you *gasp* from across the internet) and I feel so pretty! For years I've tried my hardest to avoid flashy colours, staying neutral and if I do wear a flashy colour I'll probably down play it with black, white, grey, or any other non-colour. Plus, the only non-neutral colour I loved was red. Now I want to wear greens, pinks, bright blues and more.
Yesterday I wore the pink skirt with a turquoise tank top and looked very, very bubbly.
Colours have become a "yes, more" kind of thing, when before they were a big "you expect me to wear that?!"

I think I'm becoming happier.

Also this little girl had hair down to her waist... the more little girls who challenge gender norms the better I say!

Comments

[hakuzo.livejournal.com]

Eh, one question here... I noticed your dragon icon, and I'm wondering, do you get offended by chivalrous actions, like men opening doors for you and pulling out chairs? I do this sort of thing all the time, and it offends a lot of women. I'm not doing it because I think women are the weaker sex though. I believe there should be some kind of clear cut social protocol, and that doing such things are just a good, polite thing to do. I also open doors for elderly men and children...

[hakuzo.livejournal.com]

In fact, after thinking about it, I don't even really do it 'for' women, I do it for myself (it reminds me to be polite), and out of respect for women in general (not any specific individual female).

[roie-m.livejournal.com]

I don't know if I should reply to some random guy (you're a guy, right? So am I) I don't know, but if she doesn't find it offensive, I certainly do.

If I'm standing by a door, and a woman is too, and you come by, you're going to open the door for her and not for me. Why? Because she's a woman.

And that drives me nuts.

[hakuzo.livejournal.com]

Yes, but I don't really have respect for other men. Sorry sir, I don't know you from jack.

The vast majority of men treat women like shit in my view. Women give birth to us, and grant us some measure of immortality (through our progeny). This is why I will continue opening doors.

[aesiron.livejournal.com]

So you blindly respect half the population for the ability to give birth, ignoring the large percentage that cannot or does not want children, has abortions, or are otherwise horrible parents, but disrespect the other because they cannot bear children and some are misogynists? I'm not following your logic.

[hakuzo.livejournal.com]

No, you don't understand, and if you say it that way, you won't understand because you choose not to understand.

For the sake of the blind however, I will repeat what I said above:

"In fact, after thinking about it, I don't even really do it 'for' women, I do it for myself (it reminds me to be polite), and out of respect for women in general (not any specific individual female)."

[angeleyes1701.livejournal.com]

Have you ever considered just opening doors for people. If I reach the handle first, I'll pass and hold it for the other person to pass, be it woman or man. As for validation - it's nice. I am not much of a gender-bender. I just do whatever is comfortable for me.

[hakuzo.livejournal.com]

Occasionally I will. It depends on how close behind me they are, how generous of a mood I'm in, etc. I won't let the door slam in anyones face, either.

I feel like I was born in the wrong time. A lot of people probably laugh at me, but that's how I was raised, and that's how I believe. I won't change, because I like who I am. I don't mean to offend anyone.

[hakuzo.livejournal.com]

Oh, and yes... I'm a guy.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

No, "chivalry" doesn't bother me as such, except when I hold a door open for a man and he refuses to enter, that's what bothers me.
I hold doors open for people and they hold them open for.

One of my exes (whose still a really good friend), when we went on one of our earlier dates, took out a chair and I sat in the opposite one, he gave me a look and I said "what?"
"I took out a chair for you, are you a feminist or something?"
Yeah, it's those things that bother me, but general politeness is all fine.

[hakuzo.livejournal.com]

I'm glad it doesn't bother you. =) It's kind of confusing to be a man and not have a clear idea of what to do.

I have had that happen when I opened a door for someone before. They opened the other door, and went through that after shooting me a look from hell. I was kind of sad my hospitality was refused, but I wasn't offended.

[hagar-972.livejournal.com]

*giggle* About the dragon icon... I originally made it for nurint, and she graciously agreed to have it shared with the rest of the world. (As it's just too... appropriate.) Anyhows, it's 50% feminism, and 50% an inside joke - and the dragon imagery thing is totally the latter.

[hakuzo.livejournal.com]

I understand the joke... I also understand the sentiment behind the serious side of it. Very nice work, btw. I was just curious how melody_kitty felt about doors, because my fiance used to have a similar saying: "I'll open my own doors, thank you." I'm not sure why, but it doesn't offend her when I do it. I'm so glad, too, because I love doing that for her. =)