Day 49

Went goodwilling with Kelsey today and then played bananagrams (which by the way is a wonderful game).  While we were at good will we were distracted by a colorful display of tattoos but as we drew closer I found myself dismayed.

Notice the "Girl-toos" next to the "Skulls" not the "Boy-toos."  In other words, girls deserve distinctly named tattoos while boys don't.  Why do we separate things based on gender?  Toys for example, is a pink toy really better for a girl and is something with flames painted on the sides better for a boy?  My guess is that they don't even really notice the difference until we put meaning to it.  We tell boys that they should not wear nail polish and that girls should all want to be princesses.  Even if it's not with our words it is in the way we choose gifts for them.  People play gentler with girl babies than boy babies.  Are girls really more fragile?  What are we doing to our children?

Then we grow up and the separation is so ingrained that we hardly notice and we take it for granted.  Do men and women really need different kinds of deodorant and shampoo?  Think about it.