Why couldn't I get "Being a Girl" right?
Dressing myself felt impossible. Every outfit turned into a failed formula. Not pretty. Not interesting. Not - God forbid - sexy. Definitely not that. My wardrobe was 97% t-shirts and jeans. Not for comfort, but camouflage. I couldn't have my body out there 'Tempting' people. Safer to look like a rectangle.
At the same time, I did want to dress... like me. Not my Geometry homework.
God I wish I'd had Maia Kobabe's Gender Queer
There is so much to say about this memoir. However, the biggest thunderbolt is Maia Kobabe's struggle with clothes. Every anecdote a familiar sting. Why do only "Boys" get the rocket ship underwear? Why ARE clothes so fiercely divided?! The binary of Gender creeps in everywhere. To break it, to find your own place, takes work. Even in what seems so simple as buying clothes.
It's a damn revolutionary act.
While sharing Kobabe's joy in finding their style (Gay Magician) a thought hit.
It's me.
That happened to me.
This is something I did not think about sharing with a stranger. Even so, there it was. Printed in color.
By this time, I was iin skirts and button-ups, wearing witch hats. Taking up space because it felt good.
Imagine what could have happened, if teenage me had this book. Saved all that time trying to dress for anyone else. Just knew other people were throwing their hands up at this nonsense and going "WHY?!"
Gender Queer is one of Open Cover Books foundational texts. It shook me. I hope I can get it into other people's hands. Save them an hour, a day, a lifetime of feeling the way I did about clothes. About my own body.
You aren't alone.
Buy the book, buy the hat, have a magical time being you.
<3
Open Cover Books