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RaveA heartening playground interaction
I don't even know how many times I've made offhand TERFy comments in casual conversations with new people. Occasionally, someone will seem uncomfortable. I'll refrain from making personal remarks about the type of person I believe stereotypically responds that way, except to say it sure does always seem like the same type and not the type I'd feel like I'm missing out on. Far more often, it is well received. One such encounter happened yesterday. We've been cooped up most of this awful winter, and we had our first warm day. My small one was playing with some other children at the playground and called a long hair boy a girl. I corrected her, and assured her, the child was male. This kid's dad then complained to me that his wife wouldn't let him cut the boy's hair short, and so he looks like a girl. I disagreed. I told him his child didn't look like a girl at all to me, that many men have long hair and lots of people love long hair on men. I said equating long hair to girls was very "trans thinking." His wife, and another mother near us, both reacted positively, nodding agreement, laughing, and the wife saying "Yes! See?" I know it's just one small encounter, but it's the first I've been out aTERFin' since last year, and I found it encouraging. Thought I'd share.
My mom cut my hair very short—like nothing touching the ears—when I was in kindergarten. This was over 2 decades ago. I was mistaken for a boy twice.
One time she dressed me in a biker-style jacket and sent me to school. I didn’t like the jacket, but I didn’t care too much. I hated the haircut.
Two other little kids whispered to each other, and then a little girl asks me if I’m a boy or a girl. I said that I was a girl, but I remember feeling embarrassed about it and leaving the situation ASAP.
The other time (same haircut), I was in a full Halloween costume including full face makeup. It was an old woman calling me so handsome, and I was just like “thanks…”
Was... was your mother trying to turn you into a little punk rocker? Am very confused by these style choices for a kindergartner.
Haha right? She had me do auditions for commercials etc as a baby and young child. I think she had the idea that a pixie cut would differentiate me or something. Either that or she was just tired of doing my hair. Or my last theory: she always said that I was supposed to be a boy. She didn’t trans me at least.
My mom cut my hair very short (I guess you could call it a pixie cut, though it doesn't look that stylish on photos) when I was in kindergarten, too. She couldn't be arsed to do anything with it, and I didn't care one way or the other. (In primary school I was upgraded to a rather girly bob cut, and then promptly decided to grow my hair out. I love my hair long, it is also cheaper because I don't need a hairdresser, I just wear it up at all times, while my mom has to have her short haircut done every couple weeks. But I am quite a fan of short hair for toddlers who don't care about it ... and don't have to pay woman tax at the hairdresser.)
I can't recall that anyone ever mistook me for a boy. Though I must admit that I was a shy kid and never talked to strangers, so perhaps that is why, lol.
I had a bob too! Also when I was a bit older. I tried short hair again as an adult, but I find ponytails the easiest. I don’t fault “hippie” dudes.