Tonight my sister was at a birthday party, and no one in my family really wanted to cook dinner, so my parents, brother, and myself went out to dinner. It was really nice. I just enjoy spending time with my family. (Well, mostly. Sometimes they get on my nerves.)
After dinner, my brother went outside to play on this large metal statue-type-thing. I joined him shortly after. It was shaped like a hollow T, and you can climb on to the top part of the T if you are big enough, and have sufficient arm muscles. Both of us managed to get up. We were up there for just a couple of minutes before this other kid joined us. His name was Alex, and he asked us for help getting up, which my brother only too happy to provide.
My brother and Alex got to talking, and I learned that Alex was 7 (my brother is 10), among other things. After a couple of minutes, Alex turned to me and said "So, are you guys like brothers or something?" I quickly explained that I was a girl, and therefore I was my brother's sister. But Alex just couldn't believe it. "Nah, you aren't a girl!" he told me. My brother responded by saying "Yes she is! She's my sister!" At this point, Alex, who was still doubtful about my gender, was called away by his parent.
And I marveled about children's understanding of gender in our society. It was so simple to my brother- I was his sister, no matter what I look like. And yet, to Alex, it was also so simple- I looked like a boy, so I must be my brother's brother.
If only it were so simple.
2 comments:
Just letting you know I'm here and I'm reading!
-bobbie (serpentsapphire)
Were you at Bertucci's, and then in the T statue right outside? :p
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