aculturation of my fender. ps I don't hate men

[abilouise]

Last night had a really interesting conversation during which I FLIPPED OUT and listed off all of the things that I hate about the cultural relics of femininity that make me feel ill, angry, ooshy or just generally uncomfy (when applied to me. other people are free to do what they want). certain shades of pink, socks with lace around the ankles, pointy shoes, curls in my hair, eyelet lace, the words "vagina" and "pussy", deodorants marketed at teenage girls, the bras they sell at K-mart and Target, etc., baby powder, wigs, pantyhose, baby dolls, that whole damn aisle of the drugstore (you know, the woman one that I never have to go to again -- ask me why), most purses, most makeup, non-cotton underwear, capri pants, skirts with flapping open side-seams, strapless bras, corsets, any frill on any garment, ever, maternity clothes (no I've never worn any), slips, hairdos, giant and obnoxious wallets that are built to hold a checkbook and change and stuff, baby shower culture, bridal headpieces (only one person has ever seen me in one and there is no photographic evidence), moisturizer, cold cream, women's garden gloves, my grandmother's sweaters and aprons, the way that most of the men I know pronounce the word "nipple" (no I can't explain it)
After this conversation, I had to go read The Complete Hothead Paisan cover to cover before I could fall asleep. She's my girl. And no, I don't want to perform violent acts on men.
There is also the list of things I am now comfortable with but wasn't for a long time, but that is less interesting.
I want to throw a party and invite all the women I know and everyone gets an award for making it through another year of being female. If anyone wants to help me organize such a thing, let me know because I'm currently just treating it as an idea.

Comments

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

The keeper?

Oh, and I find that baby shower culture, unlike bridal shower culture, still has a place in my subculture. Becoming a parent is a terrifying prospect, and a baby shower offers an opportunity for your community of friends to say "we're in this with you, as long as we don't have to do the middle of the night feedings." But all the baby showers I've helped with/thrown have been for both parents and co-ed, so what do I know.

[abilouise.livejournal.com]

I definitely think that some aspects of baby showers are worth keeping and that they serve a purpose. The part that I don't like is the culture of them (most of them anyway, with all the pastel baby-imagery and petit fours and such) and the way a little voice inside my head screams "get me out of here!"

[brynndragon.livejournal.com]

(I'm amused by the type in the subject line. Makes me realize it's been over 2 months since I've ridden my bike though. Time to buy a new sealed battery and get back on the road!)

I like being female. Despite everything that's happen over the past year as a result of being female, I have to say I adore being this gender. I don't feel weird about needing to moisturize my hands in the winter, I can wear BDUs or a skirt without getting funny looks (although simultaneous wearing tends to get me funny looks ;P), I don't feel like I can't ask for a hug, I can cry whenever the hell I want to, and I have multiple orgasms without needing eastern meditation techniques. I'd love to do something celebrating being female, despite all the icky things people associate with my gender.

Oh, along the lines of BDUs + skirt, pantyhose do serve the function of helping to keep one's legs warm - I've been thinking about getting a pair to wear under my pants while riding. But I think you're refering to the requirement whenever a naked female leg might appear, rather than the functionality. Which I also rather dislike - what, my hairy leg is so different from some guy's hairy leg that I need to hide it or something?

[abilouise.livejournal.com]

I left the typo in because I was amused by it. I like being female, but as you personally know, I've spent a lot of time and energy redefining female in my own head so that it is something I am happy being. My main beefs with pantyhose are a) the way they feel, especially at the waist (especially control top ones, which are usually the only ones at the store in my size) and b) the way that they rip every time I wear them so I invariably have to get new ones every time I need them for something.

[boojum.livejournal.com]

I think I'd be less wrought-up over gender if there were fewer nasty implementations of it in the world and if people spent less time shoving it down my throat, which is a roundabout way of saying that I pretty much agree with you. My current focus-hates are the Oregon women's accent (only a few women have it, but it's this bizarre blend of breathy and perky, and one of the women who has it lives across the street from me) and the notion that the power of pink makes misogyny irrelevant (and not worth worrying about or trying to fix) for everyone in the vicinity.