Finding my Gender

Gender identity is a person's own identification as male or female (Wood p.23).  Society usually dictates what a person thinks is feminine and masculine.  I identify myself as a female.  I have long hair, wear makeup, wear earrings, have my belly button pierced, and wear tight fitting clothes.  I do know that I have masculine qualities, but my feminine qualities out weight them.  My earliest memory about an interaction that communicated the expectations of my gender happened when I was 3 years old.  It was on Christmas Eve and my sister and I were opening presents.  We opened all of our presents and were so excited about what we got.  My sister received a makeup kit and I received a princess barbie doll.  After all the presents were open, my parents surprised us with another big present that was around the corner.  My sister and I rushed over to it and opened it.  It was a huge, life size barbie doll house, that was taller than me at the time.  I was so excited about it, I ran and gave my parents a big hug.  This memory was the first that communicated to me that I was female.  I played with dolls, instead of cars, and I received a big pink barbie house for all my dolls.  The fact that the doll house was pink made the point that I was feminine.

My most recent interaction with someone who communicated expectations for my gender was my mom.  She has told me that it is time to settle down and get married already.  My mom comes from a generation where females are suppose to settle down as early as possible and start popping out kids.  I told my mom I wanted to finish school first, but she wants to have grandchildren by the time I am 25 years old.  I am currently 23, so that gives me 2 years to get married and have kids.  I also have 2 years til I graduate.  I feel like the society's feelings about females and males have change over the years, but older generations have trouble keeping up with the times.  I will get married and have kids one day, but not anytime soon.

Wood, Julia T. Gendered Lives, Communication, Gender, and Culture. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2011.