Gender Benders

I’m writing this post because I was tagged by Dewdrop. Tagged to write about all my dark secrets when I did things not really apt for a lady. How this would affect my respect-quotient as a woman in society, or in the blog world, I wonder. Ten things, I have been told.

1. I grew up as a tomboy. Till the age of 25 or so, I had an Army cut hair. I wore shorts and jeans. I could never carry a saree well (I still cannot). I used to wear my father’s tee shirts and running shoes to college. I used to wear men’s perfume. If that isn’t proof enough.

2. I once used to have well sculpted biceps. This was a result of using dumb bells for years. Now you would argue, saying women use dumb bells too. Yes, but not the 8 lbs ones.

3. I have used the men's restroom in a hostel. It was a matter of convenience. I went to visit a friend and the women’s restroom was too far. So I used the men’s restroom. Not a big deal for me, just that the fellow who entered as I was leaving freaked out, muttering an apology, “Sorry Sorry !!” Till date I don’t know why did he apologize, unless of course he thought he had entered the ladies restroom by mistake.

4. I have traveled alone. I don’t know if it’s supposed to be a guy thing. I mean if enough women have done it, it’s no longer a guy thing, right? I can boast more about it when I do that west coast to east coast road trip.

5. I am the official weight lifter in the family. We live on the 4^th floor, without an elevator. For years whenever mother is back after her grocery shopping, I am summoned from upstairs to lug all the heavy weight stuff.

6. I am not dirty, but I am messy. I like to live in mess. Impeccable home decorations, with everything in its place, the walls the right color, the drapery matching the wall colors, the sofa complimenting the drapery colors, taking care of these little details annoy me. My brain cannot distinguish between green or blue if you ask me which one looks better for the wall colors. I like to live with clothes and books strewn all over. It makes what I consider a house home.

7. I hate shopping. I hate going to outlet malls and spending hours looking at things, deciding, and buying them, only to realize they might not be the best and hence returning them. In Kolkata, mother and sister literally drag me to shops to get stuff that I need. I couldn’t even imagine accompanying and advising other people for shopping. If possible, I am willing to outsource my own shopping needs.

8. I don’t mean to stir a heated debate here, but I think most feminists focus more on hating men than ensuring they do anything good for womankind. True, women have suffered for ages, especially on societal issues, but so have men. Men suffer, children suffer, Hindus suffer, Dalits suffer, obese people suffer (and are ridiculed too), unemployed people suffer. The world is in suffering. Just because I am a woman doesn’t make me more privileged, or can earn more sympathy. Getting rid of gender biases in professions and using the word “actor” for an “actress” doesn’t prove anything.

9. I can swear. And swear big time. So much that I’ve heard my men friends say (out of disgust), “Oh, sometimes you are just like one of us !!”

10. I don’t believing in the man paying and holding car doors. I can open my own car door, thank you. And on multiple occasions (including dates), I have paid for a man. It doesn’t matter to me.

I’ll not tag anyone, feel free to pick this up if you want. I really want to wear blue clothes pants, or whatever they are.

sunshine