Thursday, September 26, 2013

Forward, Into the Past ~ Gender Edition

I enjoyed some new experiences at the RenFest.

In the past, I've been addressed as  ma'am, "you ladies", "guys" (which is fine; I say that too) and on rare occasions, nothing at all.  I mean, the speaker deliberately avoids pronouns, which is also fine. 

Man in Costume
I think I've passed beyond the age where I'll ever be called "miss," although one manager at work refers to people my age (including me) as "young fellah(!)", so maybe he would. 

But this is the first time I've ever been regularly addressed as "m'lady."

Another fun Renaissance Faire experience: as I said,  in several shoppes, I was told "if you want to try anything on, just let me know."  I declined, mostly because it's such an ordeal to take off everything I was wearing.  In the fur shoppe (picture earlier in this sequence), the saleslady said "wanna play dressup?" which I didn't know how to answer.  I was thinking of saying "what do you THINK I'm doing?" but the saleslady just put a wrap on me before I could answer.  I really didn't mind.

Near the end of the day, I walked right past another t-girl, in costume.  We smiled and nodded at each other and moved on.  She was with a male friend and I don't think she's a regular dresser.  Well I never see her at the cd-anonymous meetings. :)  Alas, I wasn't able to get a picture.

I also took a picture of a man in an exquisite costume as he was walking towards me.  When he got close, he winked and kept walking.

The king is on the right. :)
During the faire, the king and queen wander through their kingdom, greeting citizens.  I asked the king if I could get our picture together.  He not only assented, he put his arm around my shoulder.  I wasn't sure how to respond, so I put my arm around his waist, my friend took a couple of pictures, the king asked how I was enjoying his land and I said "it's wonderful.  And very tolerant" and we parted ways.

1 comment:

  1. Looks like you really had a good time! Though at one point I lived only about 5 or 6 miles from there, I have never wanted to put up with the crowds...or the parking mess.

    In life, I've been addressed as "Ma'am", "Lady", with other females "you ladies, folks and guys", rarely "Miss", and also have experienced pronouns being omitted. (Which is quite common.) All are fine with me.

    I particularly enjoyed it Monday when an elderly gentleman who was riding his bicycle in the neighborhood, came up behind the better half and I as we were out walking, hand in hand, in the beautiful weather. As he approached, the man commented that he'd offer "you lovely ladies a ride, but there aren't any extra seats on the bicycle." (As he passed, I smiled and thanked him. The better half simply ignored it.) Chivalry truly isn't dead, yet!

    I can tolerate hearing "Sir" when my long-haired, long-nailed self, wearing capri pants, sandals with painted toe nails, a blouse, and carrying my purse, shows up at an establishment where they have known me as a guy. Admittedly, it would be wonderful if the staff at those places would ask me how I'd prefer to be addressed - like the guy at a Jiffy Lube did - just before he got fired! (But I don't think it was a related thing.)

    It's the rest of the times that I sure do hate to hear the "S-word."

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