[ZeroGravitas]

My son had a fascination (amongst many others) with hairdryers. We once watched an advert together for a pink barbie toy hairdryer that blew out sparkly bits when on.

Noticing his interest I asked him if he wanted one. He looked at me as if I was an idiot. Pink is for girls he explains. I think that's the end of it but no, he goes on to say he'd like a blue one.

Clearly he hadn't fully internalised the cultural rules at that point. Not long afterwards I can remember him becoming acutely embarrassed by the pink play house he'd inherited from a cousin that he'd previously enjoyed playing with.

[marquis]

That's a perfect description of children figuring out the world. I remember having the same confused experience as a young girl, being embarrassed that my girly friends would come over and I wanted to build things outside instead of playing dress-ups. Convincing an 8 year old girl who's been told not to get her clothes dirty to come out and play in the mud is tough, until you let her wear your own overalls and you both go out and get filthy. I'm sure her mother wasn't impressed with me but I'm proud of that day.