11/19/2024

I was socialized into a certain gender identity based from family, growing up there certain things my aunts would question about me when I did something they referred to as something a boy would considerably do. They would push me to be more “Feminine” or “Lady Like” things such as crossing my legs when sitting down, wearing girl colors for example: Pink, Purple, White, etc.. While when we stepped outside, I wasn’t allowed to act a fool and play fight or even be around boys too often unless they were family which was rare. When babysitting my nephew my mother always states, “You're a boy, boys don’t cry stop all that crying nonsense,” Which would make me think she’s wrong, but it was how she was constructed that made her that way. Colors play an important role because when we babysit my mom says, “Take that pink hat if my grandson,” It seemed colors were a very important role and when used wrong it could affect the way someone looked at something.

Personally, I would say that we are most impressionable when we are children learning from those around us. My parents never really told me to act a certain way, but there were obvious cues when it came to understanding gender. I learned the most about gender when being a little boy hearing peers saying things like pink is for girls and boys need to be strong.

Since I was the eldest girl, my mother and grandparents were determined to turn me into a "princess." I was constantly getting my nails done, wearing dresses, pastels, and various shoes and outfits. I learned from things like this that being a girl meant constantly trying to look good or breaking your back to do so. In addition, I was taught to be what they consider a good woman—cleaning, cooking, sewing, and child care—because I was a girl. To them, being a woman meant being a housewife.
Each of these unique features has influenced who I am as a woman.