Sugar and Spice and everything nice

[ellienihon]

I am finding it interesting to work in an office with two supervisors who are both straight femmes. Clothes and shoes are a major topic of conversation at the office. These are intelligent ladies, but they really care about not wearing the same clothes in front of their dates/partners. This is just foreign to me. The chemists at my last job weren't like that, or perhaps it was just that we didn't interact quite as much. Anyway, I dress in slacks and collared shirts most days, and frequently feel like I am not much of a 'girl'.

I have had questions about gender come up more often as I become more aware. There are times when I do feel girly and enjoy dressing up and want to look pretty. Generally, I don't care as long as I stay clean-- I don't want to jump in the mud unless I have my play clothes on. But more than just the doing parts, I some times feel an energy that is more masculine. And I find that it comes up more in this environment. It's not an aggressive energy, but more protective and indulgent.

Anyway, just wanted to reflect on this a bit.

Comments

[boundwings.livejournal.com]

When I go into the office, meaning I go to PHX or heck even client sites. When people who know each other are around we talk about shoes and clothes. I am always getting asked about my shoes and where I got them. I think with shoes it is something everyone fits into and does not bring up size and weight. The guys, if present roll their eyes and ignore it. When I worked with Chemists and I knew then well, they did NOT want to talk about clothes or shoes. Not even the female ones with the exception of one.

There are different levels of being a girl. Being a girl does not mean you have to wear a skirt or dress everyday. You can wear pants and shirts and still be a girl. It can be the accessories, such as shoes, that make it more girly then say a masculine shoe.

In the end you have to be yourself and dress within your dress code and how you feel comfy. Is it bugging you because you feel left out of conversations because you do not relate to shoes and clothes?

[ellienihon.livejournal.com]

It doesn't bug me at all. Well, there is some awkwardness if they ask my opinion, but mostly they just chat about how difficult it is to find a dress or how cute someone's shoes are, and why can't someone make a pair of white pants that works...
Mostly, I find it amusing that you ladies are so into that. I notice this pattern and enjoy the energy that comes up in me.