(no subject)

[rebelraising]

Ungendering a conversation with a two-year-old is really tricky. I hadn't realised how fixated Gnome was on who is related to who how and who this person is and why they are there. Conversations with other parents at the playpark required "this one" and "that one" and "yours" and "mine" which are, ironically, quite respectable ways to refer to kids, so nobody actually raised an eyebrow. Other than at the trike. Then the library required "Give your card to the person at the desk" which probably caused less comment than my usual habit of saying "woman" rather than "lady".

Most slip-ups so far have been in responding to Gnome's "What's Sam doing?" enquiries.

Comments

[mockduck.livejournal.com]

But 'woman' is a noun rather than a pronoun, non? I like your observation about 'this one' and 'that one' - unexpected learning, there. Is the whole thing feeling like you're trying to do it without actually having to explain that you are, or wouldn't you mind explaining if someone asked why you were talking funny?

[cangetmad.livejournal.com]

Yes, noun, indeed, but since my intention here is to think about how and when I indicate people's gender, I'm trying to cut out unnecessary gendered nouns too.

I wouldn't mind if someone I knew noticed I was talking funny, but playpark parent encounters are awkward enough anyway. Oh, it's a cop-out, but, yes, I'd rather seem normal there.

[mockduck.livejournal.com]

Damn it, 'too interesting' to be normal.