distorted self-image

We know that doing damaging things to our bodies has been in high fashion for many years. (Consider the corset or perhaps chinese foot binding). Though these were physically damaging, were they as emotionally damaging as the impossible ideals our society has set?

I once spent a good six months trying to convince a close friend that the girls in myspace pictures were not more pretty than her, they just were wearing more makeup.

Thanks computers.

And take a look at this monstrosity.

I'm fascinated: Genderless parenting

I once heard a story on This American Life ( I think the episode was Somewhere Out There) about two transgendered children, two little boys who would like to be recognized as little girls. The thing which struck me most was that they said they didn't think of themselves as boys or as girls, but just as people.

If this is so, then why not accept your gender, but not the socially constructed implications? Sure, I'm male, but I like to wear dresses and play with dolls and have long hair.

A Swedish couple have recieved a lot of attention from their decision to keep their child's gender a secret. I'm interested to see how the child ends up, but unfortunately, the couple is my age. This will not assist me in time to make parenting decisions.


....because if I'm not married by 30, I'm probably going to look into adopting, and 6 years isn't enough time for a kid to grow up.

The article: http://www.thelocal.se/20232/20090623/

EDIT: I might as well take over Ally's blog theme.

John Green's video tonight concerned gender identity: