.
Some still say in effect girls can only be littles if in skirts and dresses and boys can only be one in short trousers or those awful longs even if today's boys and girls may dress very differently and have more mixed interests.
It is summer but with Covid around it certainly doesn't feel it with no one able to be away or stay with anyone overnight so I've spent my time out just exploring in the fresh air.
I've found myself thinking during this period about where things need to be for everyone including people like me to feel accepted.
Comparing how things were when I grew up in the seventies and eighties and today we can see some clear signs of progress in what we might call gender roles in society and how we can ensure people are raised to take full advantage of those opportunities.What seems to be helping us to achieve the most we can right now in society is that people are realizing there are traits that belong to both genders, and those traits that were traditionally considered 'masculine' are there in women, and the 'feminine' traits are there in men.
It's no longer seen as a problem when someone shows traits that are often considered to belong to the opposing gender--men cry and get upset in bad situations, or are gentle and soft holding a baby in their arms.
Women are more and more in the positions of power (here in the UK we've had two female Prime Ministers), and taking control of rough situations.
I don't think we need to go to a society where the women are wearing the business suits and running things while the men are dolled up in short skirts with makeup and painted nails.
That's where I break with some feminists and most on the sissy fetish side.
I hold to reverse the roles completely would be just as disastrous as the way things had been run.
Instead, we need the roles equalized and that femininity should never be seen a bad thing.
When we can get to the point where a parent gives their child a pair of panties and a sundress to wear for the day and nobody cares whether the child is a girl or boy, the world will be a much better place.
We'll get there slowly--as the previous generations die out and the new ones grow up, acceptance of things like this grows.
Someone who grew up with a 'macho' father becomes friends with a more feminine boy and realizes there's nothing wrong with it.
Now, their son grows up to be accepting of both feminine and masculine things, and their child more so.
Those of us who grew up experiencing both sides of the equation when the roles were so much more rigidly defined seem to be some of the biggest champions for equality.
I learned firsthand that girls don't have a more difficult life compared to boys, but instead each gender faces their own difficulties and with each gender were variants such as Jane Girls like me and Tom Boys.
We have the right to be free to be me.
With you know what about you really need some child-like escapism which we use back then.
Last year we had one that I loved and today a two story special came out.
This is one of two stories opening pages which goes to a staple of comics of my era and especially both girls comics and books, boarding schools.Naturally most readers of Jinty and other girls publications rather as with boys stories such as Winker Watson in the Dandy had not actually been to one unlike me but knew enough about the rules, regime and intrigues that applied.
As a schoolgirl or a schoolboy such as myself something about a core part of life was most relatable and lent itself to discussion at playtimes or when with friends outside school hours about what had happened and what we'd of done.
I'm glad Rebellion care to bring back titles like Jinty with a more updated but kept in the past feel.
There's been a few things going on this week which I'll get around to talking about but one is the extent to which I now recognize I'm very much a physical activity centred person whereas in the past with being less obviously mobile it was just assumed I was sedentary preferring to sit quietly with a book up a corner.
People sometimes confuse that sense of being or needing to be always physically "on the go" with sports which can for many be an expression of it but it need not be because it is that need be moving your body around that can come in activities like making things especially in a group such as building structures or racing cars on your hands and knees.
It's like we can't settle for long without having to get up and go which has bedevilled traditional sat at the desk chalk and talk education rather than more hands on and even outdoor education in schools.
I spotted that this week and just acted on it going out to let it out several times in a day as so long as it doesn't get in way of regular life, it's fine.
Another is something that I feel we are in danger of losing and that is the sense of conviction about what is we say, feel and believe being prepared to be open about it rather than to fudge or even backtrack in the face of opposition.
It is impossible to have meaningful discussion when topics are said to be no longer debatable and where those who may disagree effectively howl down and deliberately seek to ruin peoples lives for challenging their little world.
Equally as the protagonist, you need to be prepared to stand firm and put forward your case citing relevant facts and experiences respectfully.