Oh, I think it's going to be very dependent on a kid's specific situation. I wasn't thinking about anything like this, but I also wasn't growing up in a state that had a huge, active referendum about gay marriage that directly affected family members when I was a kid. My parents had many gay friends, but the idea that they would ever be legally recognized just wasn't even thought.
And I don't think this is going to be something my 9 year old is interested in, but the 12 year old certainly was. 5th grade was really fraught for him. But I do think she's grappling with gender already, in that there have been a bunch of schoolyard conflicts hinging on boyness or girlness, and crushes, etc. I have a close friend whose son is...well, I'm not sure he's going to be a he when he's an adult. Interacting with that kid, I don't think his feelings are about the sex act, but something more...foundational?
Again, this wasn't something I was raised with even talking about, so I don't know. I do think gender is one of those things kids start working through at very young ages, as separate from sex.
Yeah, I think gender expression at this age has less to do with genitals. They did this study with preschoolers, and they don't even match body parts with gender at all, like they go off of clothing cues and the like. It's only later that they get that people with boy parts should be boys. It's bananas.
But yeah, it's a brave new world out there. This gender stuff doesn't freak me as much as the effects of technology on social interactions. I am terrified of creating an Internet troll, or having one of them ganged up on in social media. I've already seen some shit go down on Instagram, of all places, because that's the only social networking site the boy is allowed onto. I'm not even afraid of perverts or whatever -- they're in more danger from people they know irl -- but toxic social interactions, identity theft, corporate slash government surveillance, etc. It's enough to make me get out the run foil.
Oh, Instagram is a photo sharing site. There usually isn't much social interaction, which is how come it's funny to see people get into slap fights there.
And yeah, I know people are forever saying that if we strip everyone of anonymity, then Internet trolls will magically vanish, but that's a lot of fucking bullshit. Try being a woman on the Internet for two days, and anyone will learn why having your real name out there is a bad idea.
Eh, I feel so broken by the prequels I've been deliberately ignoring the hype over the new Star Wars. And as much as I enjoyed the recent Star Trek reboot -- even though it was kinda dumb and messageless, which is a problem -- the second is fucking terrible, so I'm a little apprehensive about Abrams at the helm
Japanese culture doesn't have the same kinds of rigid gender structures that we do here. Genderbending or similar topics are not that uncommon in any shojo, although most of the stuff I'm familiar with treats it less seriously than this manga you've reviewed.
If you're still looking for manga for your 9 year old, I suggest Card Captor Sakura, Sailor Moon, and Yotsuba& (I think this is its English title). They might be more what you're looking for.
Yeah, that was what my lazy research turned up. And thanks for the recs! I don't know why I didn't think of Sailor Moon, because even I have heard of that, sheltered though I am. The other two are going on the list too. Awesome!
And I don't think this is going to be something my 9 year old is interested in, but the 12 year old certainly was. 5th grade was really fraught for him. But I do think she's grappling with gender already, in that there have been a bunch of schoolyard conflicts hinging on boyness or girlness, and crushes, etc. I have a close friend whose son is...well, I'm not sure he's going to be a he when he's an adult. Interacting with that kid, I don't think his feelings are about the sex act, but something more...foundational?
Again, this wasn't something I was raised with even talking about, so I don't know. I do think gender is one of those things kids start working through at very young ages, as separate from sex.
But yeah, it's a brave new world out there. This gender stuff doesn't freak me as much as the effects of technology on social interactions. I am terrified of creating an Internet troll, or having one of them ganged up on in social media. I've already seen some shit go down on Instagram, of all places, because that's the only social networking site the boy is allowed onto. I'm not even afraid of perverts or whatever -- they're in more danger from people they know irl -- but toxic social interactions, identity theft, corporate slash government surveillance, etc. It's enough to make me get out the run foil.
And yeah, I know people are forever saying that if we strip everyone of anonymity, then Internet trolls will magically vanish, but that's a lot of fucking bullshit. Try being a woman on the Internet for two days, and anyone will learn why having your real name out there is a bad idea.
Eh, I feel so broken by the prequels I've been deliberately ignoring the hype over the new Star Wars. And as much as I enjoyed the recent Star Trek reboot -- even though it was kinda dumb and messageless, which is a problem -- the second is fucking terrible, so I'm a little apprehensive about Abrams at the helm
If you're still looking for manga for your 9 year old, I suggest Card Captor Sakura, Sailor Moon, and Yotsuba& (I think this is its English title). They might be more what you're looking for.