General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Growing up female [View all]pink-o
(4,056 posts)Okay, I had the same social standards growing up in the 60s, with one other HUGELY defining factor: by 1969 I was 6'1" and towered over girls, boys, women and 99% of men. And I was only 14. You never saw anyone go to town like those suburban middle class women trying to make me husband-worthy. Poor Tommy whathissname in 7th grade was forced to date me, because he was the only kid who almost reached my shoulders. And he absolutely hated me, hated that his friends all laughed when he showed up at school dances with the "big horse"
I was very strong and robust as a child, always running and playing sports a, but once puberty hit, that was the end of my rough and tumble days. As someone upthread mentioned, we couldn't wear tampons and were stuck with menstrual belts. Along with garter belts and cone bras made from cotton, no way could you run, jump rope, or swim anymore. Anyway "ladies" weren't supposed to be athletic. Just cuz I was a coach's dream didn't mean my parents would allow me to alienate the male gender even more!
I remember my mom's friend scrutinizing my fat sister and me when we were about 10 and 11. She turned to Mom and said: "you can put that one on a diet. The other one is hopeless."
Well, obviously I got over most of the esteem issues, but it took until I was in my 40s to pick up where I left off exercising. And I never did learn to play the sax--but I fronted a rock n roll band in the 80s with my Gibson Les Paul! And unlike so many of my petite sisters, I was never attacked, raped or even condescended to because men were too intimidated. As for now, my only complaint is clothes that don't fit, and airplane seats. I have become the athlete I should have been, realizing the promise that had been suspended by years of sexism--and my liberalism was totally honed by always being the misfit and non conformist. So in my dotage, I can't complain--I am defined by my height, but not in a bad way anymore!