As kids, we're all told we can be who we want to be, do what we want to do, the world is our oyster (or shellfish of choice).
And yet, from the second we're born, the vast majority of us are immediately pigeon-holed due to what's between our legs. Baby girls get pink and yellow nurseries with birds and bunnies and dolls. Baby boys get blue and green nurseries with cars and spaceships. Baby girls get little dresses and babygrows, and baby boys get dungarees and onesies. Never mind the fact that just over 100 years ago, blue was considered "soft and feminine" and pink was "stronger and therefore masculine", or that boys and girls both wore dresses until they reached schooling age.
As a little girl, you played with dolls and my little ponies, kitchen sets and jewellery sets. Because why would a GIRL ever want to play with cars or mechano or lego? Why would she ever want to try and build something interesting when there's fake makeup to play with? Why would she ever want to play with something that also develops her mind, and doesn't emphasis her looks?
As a little boy, you played with guns and GI Joe, mechano and doctor kits. Because why would a BOY ever want to play house or dress up? Why would a boy ever want to do something like pretend to be a dad when there's killing games to play?
Apparently it's more acceptable for a boy to play with a male "action figure" and simulate death and fighting, than to play with a Barbie and simulate a domestic setting. I wonder how the fact of playing with a feminine simulacrum would "cause" gayness, as some people seem to think?
Why is it that only girls can play at being nurturing and loving and caring, and only boys can play at adventuring and building and fighting?
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