In These Heels

Theres much debate on the interwebs about Tom Boys. Seemingly Brad Pitts daughter prefers to dress in boys clothes, have short hair, and generally ‘act like a boy’.  Everyone is questioning if its finally acceptable for girls to break away from the Pink clutches of clichés, to finally be able to wear boys pants, and say ‘Hey, I can skateboard and hock up greeners too you know!’.

Its great that its created such debate, but what actually gets me is that all through these discussions we are still classifying these kids. Girls want to do boy things. Like what?  What makes a thing a ‘boy thing’? Dirt? Danger?  And boys who want to do ‘girl things’. Forgive me if I’m wrong, but I expect hubby to take as much part in raising OUR child as I do, so if at the age of 5, or 6, he should have wanted to play houses, or push dolly in a pram, its only role play, and not something that only girls should be doing, its something that kids see both parents doing, and the same goes for cooking, most tv chefs are blokes.

And on the flip side of that coin. Girls who refuse to play with dolls aren’t doing themselves any favours. You will grow up, you will fall in love, and you, no matter whether you like to admit it or not, are the one with the womb. If you want a family, then a few practice sessions when you are in your summer hols, clip clopping about in your mums old stilettos from the ’80s isn’t going to turn you into a Stepford Wife.  Pretending to change tires on your bike (blue or pink) wont go amiss either.

The fact that these debates still include the divide is exactly WHY the divide is not about to be lifted. I was what you would call a Tom Boy, prefering the company of lads, to girls, and I’m still like that.  But I was the one with the painted nails, covered in mud. I was the one with the wellies with high heels, and a slingshot in my pocket. I was the one with the plaited hair, and the pretty skirts that caught on barbed wire.  Now I wear my football tops to the pub to watch the match, but still with full make up, tight jeans and high heels, and build fences wearing designer sunglasses.

You can do whatever the heck you like. You are you. Just cos some eejit on BBC news says thats boyish, doesn’t mean you have to listen to them. I know I haven’t.

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