lesbianpriority:

magnezone:

Have you ever witnessed the process of masculinization operate on a young boy in real time? They go from unapologetic enthusiasm and candor to a state of hypervigilance, stoicism and aggression. They stop letting themselves like the things they used to like, or they continue to do so in solitude and shame. They start manually lowering the pitch in their voice. Sweet, caring boys turn dull, cruel and sad. 

you even see small steps at very young ages. i’ve spent a lot of time volunteering and working with children and there is a stark difference between boys around 2 and boys 3+ when it comes to the color pink. there was a little boy in a nursery i was at who loved pink, always choosing it for crayons and toys and whatever. and one day when he was 3 he refused anything pink and said it was for girls.

where did he learn that? how did a toddler learn a color was only for girls and liking it would be embarrassing for a boy? we are teaching and enforcing gender roles since kids are born. it’s so heartbreaking to see it play out.

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