Quote from: tekla on February 08, 2009, 12:17:44 PM
Even before those labels, it was always far more OK for a girl to be a tomboy, then for a boy to be a sissy. Hell, in '73 I had to fight like a dog to take Home Ec. Now, girls could take woodshop or autoshop, but a boy wanting to cook? Never. Odd, I got some grief for it until all the guy figured out that I was making cakes and brownies in school and all wanted in on that.
Riding Michigan Central trains to and from college, I would knit, noting and ignoring female stares. Later in life, when I made dishes for pot lucks, my wife would automatically be complimented. When my wife went on business trips, her mother would suggest leaving me ready-cooked meals (I, being responsible for most of the meals when she's home).
On the other hand, when I took an adult-ed sewing course, the instructor insisted I make a skirt, like the other students. We were told to wear them the last day of class, which fell on Halloween. Nor has there ever been an eyebrow raised when I've taken adult-ed cooking classes.
The AARP is sponsoring a sweepstakes. The prize is a makeover ("Christopher Hopkins, a.k.a. The Makeover Guy, did an amazing job on the winners of our 2008 Faces of 50+ Real People Model Search (check them out in our multimedia special). Now, one lucky reader—chosen in a random drawing—will score a trip to Christopher's reVamp! salonspa for his or her own beauty makeover."). I wonder if they are prepared for long-haired androgynes, cross dressers, and the rest of us. Anyone else an AARP member? I wonder if I should enter.
Of course, I know that such roles and presentations have nothing to do with gender, but then what does?
Smiling sweetly whilst pondering what to make for supper (no smoothies--it must be something my wife likes),
S