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]

I don't see anything wrong with challenging norms. I think more guys should do it too. I get angry at the way products are marketed in the USA. I once bought a back-scrubber for the bath tub, and the tag said something like 'Girl-Power Back Scrubber' or something similar. WTF? Why should that be marketed toward women? It's not like they are selling feminine hygeine here... LOL

On the other hand, there are a lot of very nice clothes marketed toward women, and sold only in the womens section. A lot of these don't even look gender-specific at all. They look more punk or goth to me, like black leather belts with skull buckles, black boots with zippers on the side, etc. I buy what I want to, and wear what I want to.

I don't think that anyone should be pushed to challange gender norms either though. I don't think there is anything wrong at all with a man looking like a man, or a woman looking like a woman. If a little girl wants to dress in a pink frilly dress, and that makes her happy, by god let her do it! =)

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

I agree that the marketing industry sucks when it comes to products, especially skin products.

And most articles of clothing nowadays are fairly androgynus, so I understand your beef :)

Usually people challenge social norms because it's their fun (at least it's my fun :) and yes, whatever makes a person happy is what counts whether it's in baggy jeans or a muslin skirt. I happen to feel comfy in both :D and that should apply to anyone... the more boys and men who wear skirts the better, kilts always seem logical to me for males, because of all the dangly bits :)

[hakuzo.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the skirt was origionaly concidered male clothing. It seems strange. If there wasn't such social pressure where I live I would probably wear one. They look uber-comfortable! As a child I averaged about a fight each day, and I am really loath to have to do that anymore. I hate fighting, although I am pretty good at it (years of martial arts training, years as a kid learning to take punches... yeah). I'm most happy when people don't know I exist.