Does my child look like a boy? Today we went to a local mall (Lane loves the mall, by the way). She was wearing cute beige Mary Janes, brown pants, a long sleeved white onesie, and a green flowy top with big white daisies on it.
We got asked twice if she was a boy.
Before we had her, I really did not want a ton of pink stuff. I like green and yellow and white and purple, and pink too. But too much pink, I did not want. Well, as it turned out, I didn't buy most of Lane's clothes. Most of them were given to us, and the clothes I have bought have been boring things to make the cute things stretch into winter: tights, neutral pants, neutral onesies, etc. So guess what?
We have a lot of pink.
But here it doesn't seem to matter. I can dress her in ALL pink. Or purple. She can be wearing dress shoes, Mary Janes, a bow in her hair, pants with flowers or socks with ruffles and people ALWAYS ask if she's a girl or a boy.
SERIOUSLY? Does this look like a boy?:
No kidding, the day we took her out in that dress (and took this picture to go along with my facebook status that day), we got asked twice if she was a boy. TWICE. It's pink and ruffle-y and a DRESS for crying out loud!
I really, really don't understand it. I mean, when I'm out and about here, playing at the park, going to the store, whatever, I can usually tell if the child is a girl or a boy. I don't need to ask. The only time I wasn't sure was last week when the child had on pink shoes and a boyish green top.
But really. Some days I dress Lane and I look at her and I say to her, "If anyone asks me if you're a boy today I am going to scream." And then I invariably get asked 3 or 4 or even 5 times what gender she is. Pink socks with ruffles. Pink shoes. Tights with flowers. Pink skirt. Pink top with bows. Pink mittens. Pink jacket. Pink hat. Pink, pink, PINK.
No, my daughter is NOT A BOY.
It's a good thing she has hair. Goodness, can you imagine how bad it would be if she didn't? I'm thinking of getting her ears pierced, but having trouble convincing Shannon, darn him...
Anyone want to back me up?
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You are not alone Michelle! I have SO many friends with little girls who have gotten asked over & over (one even had her daughter's ears pierced!) if their daughters were boys. I think it's because people don't pay attention and assume, if it's a girl she will have a flowing mane of hair. It's the only thing I can think of, Lane has plenty of hair but it isn't long & all pinned up. Retarded, believe me, I know but she doesn't look like a boy to me at all. You would think the clothes would clue people in, but again, obviously they don't pay attention. I never had it happen with my boys, I assume because people just think boys+short hair, girls+long hair- DUMB. Anyway, all that rambling to say, I don't think Lane looks like a boy, she's an adorable little girl, people are goofy :)
ReplyDeleteIt must be a cultural thing. What do the baby girls wear over there - maybe they don't wear pink? Maybe pink is not recognized as a feminine color. Greg doesn't want Ava's ears pierced, either, so my sympathies.
ReplyDeleteThat's funny! We got that some in Czech Republic and we learned that it had nothing to do with clothing and everything to do with pierced or non-pierced ears. Could that be it? Cracks me up that people would actually think that a BOY would wear a frilly dress!!
ReplyDeleteWHen REbecca was little she had a lto of hand me down frilly clothes-people would still ask if she was a boy. I think it was the fact she didn't have much hair until!?!?!
ReplyDeleteAnyhow she's now a missionary with 4 children-very much a girl, or I should say woman!!!
million dollar question:
ReplyDeletehow are baby boys there dressed? as far as pink and purple... it seems that's just a cultural cue to gender that your current country doesn't dig into. possibly even dresses.
keep in mind that in the 17th and 18th century, boys had long curls and were dressed in gowns until they were at least 2-yrs-old.
I got asked about each of my girls, if they were girls or boys, in Moscow. Not as often as you are, but I do remember being amazed they had to ask.
ReplyDeleteThey don't ask anymore. ;)