Gender

Although one may consider my childhood to have been stereotypical for a little girl; always playing house, Barbies and baby dolls, dress up and makeup, doing cheerleading and dancing for ten years, I also did many boyish stereotypical things like ride bikes, play in creeks, and have a catch to name a few. I was never a tomboy and never a girlie girl. I believe my parents played a huge role in this evenly split balance. They’ve always given me options; never did they decide or tell me what they wanted or expected of me. They are my support system. No one in my life has really ever stated to me what girls should do and what boys should do. I was always given the option to decide for myself.

Having an older brother and a younger sister, I believe has been the ultimate blessing. Both my sister and I have been given the opportunity to play in the dirt with my brother, play video games with him and play on the same soccer team as him. I have also been given the opportunity to play with barbies and paint nails. On the opposite side, my brother was given the opportunity to play dolls with us, not that he ever did though. I don’t believe he didn’t play with dolls because of a stereotypical reason, I believe that he generally did not find playing with dolls to be entertaining. My male cousin, unlike my brother used to play dolls and house with my cousins and I. Never once did I find it odd that he played with us until I got older and he grew out of that stage and began playing sports and videogames. That’s when the stereotypes of boys and girls started to make sense to me. Luckily my aunt and uncle never pressured my cousin to fit the social norms of being an athletic boy rather than playing with girls, he mostly chose that path on his own.

Attending an all girls’ school has opened my eyes to the strength women have. I feel I possess all of the strengths a man has as well as feel equal to men in every way. Although society objectifies women, the Mount has taught me to appreciate my gender and encourage other young women to do the same. I have come to value my education and use not having boys in my school to my advantage. Without them, I have become more comfortable with who I am and who I am becoming.

In a romantic relationship, I believe I will look for something similar to that of which my parents have. I feel I’ll search for a man who respects me by showing manners and being chivalrous towards me. On the other hand, I don’t feel it necessary for me to be the one to stay at home cooking and cleaning. My husband and I can take turns with those chores because I would like to make a living just as my mom does. I admire their relationship these expectations of mine go hand in hand with my parents marriage.