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Birth (0 years old)
From the moment I was born, gender stereotypes subtly shaped my world. Starting with the soft pinks of my clothes, the bows in my hair, and the floral patterns on my baby blankets. Before I even understood language, the world had already decided what colors, behaviors, and roles were 'meant' for me. -
Elementary School (9 years old)
In elementary school, I began to notice the invisible rules that seemed to govern how boys and girls were 'supposed' to interact. Whenever I tried to befriend a boy, it was often misinterpreted as having a crush, both by the boys themselves and by those around us. This made forming genuine, platonic friendships across genders feel awkward and unnecessarily complicated. -
Middle School (13 years old)
By middle school, social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat became a regular part of my life. I felt the need to post pictures that fit the mold of what a 'normal' girl should look like: smiling, styled, and carefully filtered. It wasn’t just about being seen; it was about being accepted, and that often meant shrinking parts of myself to fit into a curated version of femininity. -
College (19 years old)
Although I’ve become more comfortable socializing with men, most interactions happen in academic or professional settings with a clear purpose. Socially, people still tend to form same-gender groups, and I’m no exception. Most of my close friends are women, reflecting my comfort in those spaces. This timeline has taught me the value of fostering inclusive environments where people of all genders can connect without assumptions. Moving forward, I want to foster inclusive environments.