# Variant

Author: ShingetsuMoon
Tags: Boy, Gender, Girl, Poem, Poetry, Stereotypes

#12 of Poems

My thoughts on the gender stereotypes and gender expectations of today's society.

Check a box.  
Boy? Or Girl?

You can't have both.  
Just pick one or we'll  
pick it for you.

Don't forget to play the  
part. Dress appropriately.  
Boys don't wear skirts.  
Girl changes your outfits.

Cut your hair shorter you   
look like a girl.

Grow your hair out, why  
do you insist on looking  
like a boy all the time?

Wear this. Don't wear that.  
This is for boys only.  
Girls need to play with dolls.

Why are you in the kitchen?  
That's where women should be.  
Stay out this is a man's job and   
you don't belong here.

For crying out loud ladies put  
some makeup on you never  
take care of yourself. Boys take  
that stuff off your face you   
should know better it makes  
you look weak.

Don't show your emotions  
real men don't cry. Girls it's okay  
to cry but don't do it too much  
or you'll just be another stereotype.

Why are you interested in that?  
Are you trying to be a boy?

Why are you always dressing up  
like that? I don't understand why  
you want to be a girl so badly.

You belong in the kitchen.  
No stay out that's women's work.

What do you mean you can't sew?  
Boy why are you doing that? Find  
some woman to do it for you.

Cars are for boys, why are you here?  
Just let a real man take care of this.

Shopping is for women, why do   
you love going to the store so often?

Change your hair.  
Change your voice.  
Change your personality.  
Change your clothes.  
Change your interests.  
Change your job.

Hide your feelings.  
Hide your emotions.  
Hide what you love.  
Hide your interests.

Hide the voice that others say  
is too weak and frail

Hide the deep tones that aren't  
befitting of a woman.

Cut your hair.  
Grow your hair.  
Learn to cook.  
No, not if you're a boy.

Learn how to fix things.  
No girls I didn't mean you.

Don't watch that, what about  
monsters and superhero's instead?

Sorry girls I wasn't talking   
to you then either. Why can't  
you be satisfied with what you  
have already instead?

I don't understand?  
Why are you so upset?  
Forget what everyone says!  
Just go out and be who you are!

No wait!

Not like that.

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/ZmM6DrLn
Part of the series Poems
Previous: https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/706610-disease.md
Next: https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/715612-purest-heart.md