Male and female identities
Lately there was an expat meeting in town and somehow (this was during the drinks in the pub where we met) the issue of gender and sexuality came into the conversation.
It actually reminded me of how easily people still tag in the same way as they did several generations ago.
Muscular woman = likely to be lesbian
Woman with short hair, trousers instead of skirt, etc = less feminin, more masculine traits
Long haired man wearing make up and/or clothes that came out the women's department = likely to be gay
In fact, how silly those stereotypes are, and why do we allow us to let society stick to those ways of thinking?
I wear make-up all the time and have quite long hear, and I do occasionally buy clothing items that are marketed and developped for women. I do so because I like the sight of it. It is not like clothing or make-up with change my sexual orientation (I am straight) or makes me less masculin...
Also, we still stick to age old patterns when it comes to interaction between males and females. For example a lot of people when they go out still see the girls dress up to look pretty and attract the men's attention, while the men has the role to go over to her and try to impress her. The man is the "hunter" and the woman is the "prey". So what has this "unwritten rule" added to our society? Why should women not be able to take the first step if they like a man? Why should men not be able to cry and show emotions without being frowned upon? Which silly marketing guys decided that things such as make up and hair extentions are something reserved for girls?
Without realising, a lot of people behave according to rules that rationally make no sense. Why ??
Personally, I am male and I am straight, but I consider myself at least as feminin as masculin. Because I hate machoism and such behaviour, and feel a lot more comfortable having a serious conversation with women (from my experience, men prefer other things when going out). I am shy and sensitive, which are often attributed as female characterisms.
So even if I don't mention the make up and women's clothing (that adds up to the total picture of course, but anyway) I just feel very easier connecting to women than to men.
Now the surprising part is : EVERY man has a feminin side, and EVERY woman has a masculin side. We are somehow taught to not show that. Again: why? It's very normal. I don't want to push away my feminin side, I prefer to embrace it. And it feels good. If someone then concludes this somehow would "un-straight" me, then the problem lies with this person making a totally irrational connection between appearance/character and sexual preferences.
In a way it is easy to just ignore it and even mock with it. But it's sad that such stereotypical thoughts still survive in the 21st century.