I Wonder Why, I Wonder How...: July 2010

My Sins Against Gender Stereotypes – tagged by IHM

This is a tag from Shilpa:

If you are a woman,

Have you ever wanted something that is considered ‘manly’ ? Like a basketball, a cell phone, a dog, a camera or a new laptop? A new car or motor bike? Ever wanted to be a pilot? A doctor or not a nurse? And the manliest want of them all – The remote!
As a kid did you enjoy playing with a bat and a ball?
There was a time when books were considered ‘manly’, women authors had to pretend to be men – would you say books are still rather manly – women should want to embroider and crochet?

If you are a man,

Have you ever wanted something that only women are supposed to want – like bags, shoes, clothes, creams, perfumes, babies, flowers? A peaceful home and a happy family? Have you ever been afraid of the dark or of insects?
As a kid did you ever want to play ‘teacher-teacher’, cooking or did you like playing with a doll? Have you ever enjoyed cooking? Bought something in pink? Loved chocolates?

After reading IHM's tag I was torn. The first feeling I got was, bah! I don't get this at all and later I hoped that she had tagged me so I could have written some of my own instances. So when Shilpa tagged me I was super excited. I also noticed that another friend of mine also had my same initial reaction when I told her that she was also going to get tagged. Interesting.

Growing up in India, that too in a small township in Trichy and later in Chennai, I have broken many gender stereotypes. I have also suffered from many of it, which will probably be for another post if I ever decide to write it. I was always a social butterfly and I was far more into enjoying life than most others around me who were almost always quick to judge. Anyways, all that later for a rant post, let me get to the tag first.

I have ridden a motorbike around Chennai quite a few times. With helmets on of course. I never wanted to be seen as a ‘girl’ riding the bike. It was my brother’s Kawasaki.
I have roller-skated when I was just a little girl (early 80’s) being the only girl in the rink in our township. I was the only tennis player in our court when I was growing up. Boys used to push me aside and be mean to me until one day I just used my muscle to show that I could beat them in the game of tennis. I got respect after that.
I have almost always been the only girl in bathing suit in our pool in the township. Heck, I have been the only girl in the pool itself. I have photos to prove it.
I spoke with boys in Chennai, as a little girl growing up. It was a taboo those days. Boys used to visit my house, classmates, and friends, and I have had people talk ill of me behind me. Biatches!
I don’t like Valentines Day.
I don’t go all crazy over stuffed toys.
I cannot do the baby speak. I am sorry babs you never got baby talk from me.
I cannot say cho-chweet and I get annoyed when people say that to me or something mine.
I love watching tennis, Formula 1 racing, and basketball and many men have given me grief assuming that I follow this only to check out the good looking guys in it! Really?!! I am sure I can kick your ass in tennis and F1 trivia for sure!
I like to swear and abuse. Cuss words

Before I finished this, I realized that I could actually list out more than 15 resons and then I toned it down to be the most common ones that made me feel annoyed or like a stranger. I grew up with boys at home and most of the time I could never understand what the big deal was!

I am tagging the following friends for following reasons, please pick it up and add the above badge to your blog as well!

Megha: Because I always want to know your opinion.

Shannah: So that I can see your point of view.

Arshiya: I would like to get a journalistic view on this.

Poorva: You are from a different generation.

Sum: I love your bird stories

Kavita: I love your cakes!

And anyone else who is ready to take up this tag! Thank you Shilpa for tagging I really enjoyed doing this one.

Love

ART