I've been told I'm "feminine" by a few people... including my wife (who once quipped that she should have been the husband and I should have been the wife.) Added to that, people on forums and on IRC have told me I type "like a girl." Whatever the hell that's supposed to mean.
Anyways, I'm not traditionally mannish. I don't have a strong affinity for tools or mechanical things, not a huge fan of professional sports, etc. And as far as how I conduct myself, I don't like arguments, I don't care who's right I just want to get to the part where the fight's over. I'm a notorious compromiser.
And I hear (ad nauseum) that I'm not a "typical" guy. Which sucks because typical guys usually have things WAY easier than atypical guys. Much less than it did in high school though. And apparently that also gives me +50 immunity to the urge to do douchey things. So yay?
So as far as mannerisms, I guess I probably wouldn't be too different, I don't think. Either that or I'd swing the other way and be a woman with traditionally masculine characteristics. Which would be really cool, since I'd be able to fix cars and stuff. Hmmm...
My physiology would be different of course. No beard, which would mean no shaving of the face. Shaving the legs would probably suck though. I mean yeah, legs are easier to shave (because they're not by YOUR EYES) but, society has expectation to shave and keep them groomed much more than men have to keep facial hair groomed. We guys can get away with letting ourselves get stubbly without being labeled as circus freaks because of hair growing in a COMPLETELY NATURAL PLACE FOR HAIR TO GROW.
*ahem*
Also, there's the biology. Boy howdy, is there ever biology. I'm no expert, but women have, like TWICE as much biology going on as we do. Cramps, bleeding... it doesn't sound terribly fun, and my hat's off to the ladies who deal with it with grace and aplomb every month. (By grace and aplomb I mean "not strangling people.")
The social stuff would be the hardest to cope with. Even as a guy who's "girly" I get a free pass on a lot of stuff. Stuff I never used to think about. I mean, yes it sucks to always be the one who's "wrong" by default in an argument, but at the same time, it'd be worse to have to deal with gender expectations of how to look, how you're supposed to behave. And that's just the tip of the sociological iceburg.
And god damn it all, the way they make women's clothing makes no sense. Whatsoever. The fabric is so thin, and you're supposed to layer things. And the necklines are low-cut on almost EVERYTHING. Like almost everything that isn't a Burqa shows skin. Which I assume is just because the people who design women's clothing get some sort of sick satisfaction whenever someone on youtube has a conniption fit over a woman showing cleavage. [Yes, yes, work up that frothing outrage over the same exact thing you see if you ever run the dire risk known as "going out in public and participating in society to any degree whatsoever."]
So I don't know. It'd be fun, and I'm pretty sure I'd probably be a lesbian in such a situation, but I'm not sure if I'd have to deal with all the B.S unless I could find a way to avoid it. Like wearing a burqa and resigning myself to being celibate.
Anyways, I'm not traditionally mannish. I don't have a strong affinity for tools or mechanical things, not a huge fan of professional sports, etc. And as far as how I conduct myself, I don't like arguments, I don't care who's right I just want to get to the part where the fight's over. I'm a notorious compromiser.
And I hear (ad nauseum) that I'm not a "typical" guy. Which sucks because typical guys usually have things WAY easier than atypical guys. Much less than it did in high school though. And apparently that also gives me +50 immunity to the urge to do douchey things. So yay?
So as far as mannerisms, I guess I probably wouldn't be too different, I don't think. Either that or I'd swing the other way and be a woman with traditionally masculine characteristics. Which would be really cool, since I'd be able to fix cars and stuff. Hmmm...
My physiology would be different of course. No beard, which would mean no shaving of the face. Shaving the legs would probably suck though. I mean yeah, legs are easier to shave (because they're not by YOUR EYES) but, society has expectation to shave and keep them groomed much more than men have to keep facial hair groomed. We guys can get away with letting ourselves get stubbly without being labeled as circus freaks because of hair growing in a COMPLETELY NATURAL PLACE FOR HAIR TO GROW.
*ahem*
Also, there's the biology. Boy howdy, is there ever biology. I'm no expert, but women have, like TWICE as much biology going on as we do. Cramps, bleeding... it doesn't sound terribly fun, and my hat's off to the ladies who deal with it with grace and aplomb every month. (By grace and aplomb I mean "not strangling people.")
The social stuff would be the hardest to cope with. Even as a guy who's "girly" I get a free pass on a lot of stuff. Stuff I never used to think about. I mean, yes it sucks to always be the one who's "wrong" by default in an argument, but at the same time, it'd be worse to have to deal with gender expectations of how to look, how you're supposed to behave. And that's just the tip of the sociological iceburg.
And god damn it all, the way they make women's clothing makes no sense. Whatsoever. The fabric is so thin, and you're supposed to layer things. And the necklines are low-cut on almost EVERYTHING. Like almost everything that isn't a Burqa shows skin. Which I assume is just because the people who design women's clothing get some sort of sick satisfaction whenever someone on youtube has a conniption fit over a woman showing cleavage. [Yes, yes, work up that frothing outrage over the same exact thing you see if you ever run the dire risk known as "going out in public and participating in society to any degree whatsoever."]
So I don't know. It'd be fun, and I'm pretty sure I'd probably be a lesbian in such a situation, but I'm not sure if I'd have to deal with all the B.S unless I could find a way to avoid it. Like wearing a burqa and resigning myself to being celibate.
