this post was submitted on 10 Jul 2026
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[–] smh@slrpnk.net 31 points 3 days ago (3 children)

Back when I was a kid, they'd judge your kid and give you whatever they thought corresponded to the kid's genitalia. Even when I heard my mother ask for a car toy I'd end up with a Barbie.

Being constantly disappointed by Barbie toys may have been my first hint I wasn't a girl.

[–] Rachelhazideas@lemmy.world 19 points 3 days ago (3 children)

Boys can like barbies too. We can acknowledge that gender stereotyping kid's interests was wrong, while acknowledging that their interests don't always define their gender.

[–] wholookshere@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

As a trans woman that played with Barbie's in secret as a kid....

We can acknowledge that stereotyping toys is dumb, while also acknowledging that kids like me knew those stereotypes, and did it anyways not knowing why.

It's great to point out its stupid. But is comes really fucking close to denying trans people the signs they were trans young, even we didn't even know it.

[–] smh@slrpnk.net 3 points 2 days ago

Thanks for putting that into words. It felt like I was being told "um, actually, have you considered that disliking Barbie isn't tied to being a boy?" (with an undercurrent of "this reason for thinking you might be trans is invalid".)

I strongly suspect that wasn't the intent of the commenter, they were trying to encourage inclusivity. It just fell flat.

[–] 4grams@awful.systems 8 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

No shit, my boy wanted a Barbie when he was little, so he had a Barbie. He also had Legos, and played with blocks, board games and eventually video games. Let kids play with whatever the fuck they want to, they are exploring.

[–] jrTug_2T@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 days ago

This right TF here. He-Man, She-Ra, G.I.-Joe and My Little Pony were all part of the same universe when they were toys on my floor.

[–] smh@slrpnk.net 7 points 3 days ago

Yes, but I didn't like Barbie toys. That was my first hint I didn't fit into the gender box that had been prepared for me. I'm not going to retcon my experiences at the age of 4 to fit into a modern concept of how I should have figured out my gender.

[–] architect@thelemmy.club 8 points 3 days ago (1 children)

That was me, too. I ended up just tossing this whole gender concept out.

I have to say, the hot wheels were hot wheels and the Barbies were ugly statues. One was superior.

[–] smh@slrpnk.net 2 points 3 days ago

I have to say, the hot wheels were hot wheels and the Barbies were ugly statues. One was superior.

Exactly. Moving parts vs a hunk of plastic to toss in a drawer.