Kathleen Massara
Arts & Culture Editor, The Huffington Post
It's Still Not Easy Being a Tomboy
Posted: 08/13/2012 9:47 am
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathleen-massara/its-still-not-easy-being-_b_1771341.html (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathleen-massara/its-still-not-easy-being-_b_1771341.html)
I read Ruth Padawer's article about gender fluidity in children in the New York Times Magazine this past weekend, and I was struck by her lack of understanding of GLBT lives. She writes about "pink boys" (her label for boys who wear feminine dress) and attempts to understand how a group of supportive parents deal with the "middle space" their sons occupy.
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In the next sentence, though, we land on a truly bizarre statement. "Gender-nonconforming behavior of girls, however, is rarely studied, in part because departures from traditional femininity are so pervasive and accepted." Hold on a minute. Did we miss something here? I've lived in a number of cities throughout the world, and every single time I've worn a tie I've gotten double-takes. Or bottles thrown at me. Or someone pointing to a friend, asking, "What IS THAT?" (All three have happened in New York, by the way.)
As a child, I wore girls' clothes, for the most part. But if I deliberately wore more boyish attire, you can bet someone would comment on it. So I'm not sure what marker Padawer is using to make this statement. Yes, women can wear pants now. And vests, as long as they hug our curves. But try walking into a modern office wearing a suit and see if heads don't turn.