I have always wondered what it's like to be a girl.
Don't get me wrong. I know I am a species of the female gender but beyond that, the identities that one is supposed to identify with, was always a mystery. From what I remember of Sociology in school and Political Science in college, I know that identity is a major part of who we are as a person and plays a vital role in our development, socially and psychologically. Identity differentiates the terrorist from the socialite and helps one understand why people are the way they are.
Which brings us to the question that was always in my mind when I started with my "social life". As a carefree child, identifying with "girldom" was not so important. In fact the mere thought of it didn't even think of crossing my mind. (Thank you Douglas Adams.) So I played like children, got dirty, had my knees scraped to the bone, was thrown out of class for talking a lot and wondered (a lot) about what happens beneath a skirt and what lives inside pants.
When I started watching television and saw the characters and the cliches, I wondered how girls are. What are they made of? (Sugar and spice and everything nice?) What do they like? Why do they talk in cryptic tongues? Why did they get sad or happy suddenly? Why did they need men?
All this is very interesting when viewed from an anthropological perspective. As an embedded observer, I did get quite a lot of insight from unsuspecting girl friends, their friends and sworn enemies. I came up with a lot of theories which were proven right and then wrong. The research took years and everything that I thought was "the answer" would sometimes not apply. No hypothesis was the final one. My own knowledge was constantly questioned and doubted upon. And I always thought, "How could I be wrong?"
Well as it turns out, you are only as good a scientist when you know you are one. Before that, you are a researcher constantly coming up with data and analysis but not getting to the point. On the subject of girls, science takes a back seat but everything has to be viewed logically. Logic and reason are key factors that govern the lives of girls. I realize that general thought doesn't support that but it's true. Girls think multiple times of the consequences of their actions. Which is why they are a mystery to the people who take split second decisions easily.
And then I thought, being logical comes easy to me, why doesn't being a girl?
The answer: Don't overthink it.
We're people as well, a little higher on the IQ ladder than our peers and with loads of experience. We're also prone to using our brains to their limit which is why analysis is easy. It's just that our expertise has been used in areas like making the correct amount of food for a family that can last two days without wastage. And I also managed to figure out the skirts and pants issue, in the end :) In that department too, I advise: Don't overthink it.
Well I tried being a girl and it was fun. I tried to not think too hard and I got the chance to clear my mind a bit. While my analytic side bores some people to death, my girly side gives people a good time as well. The attempt to be the best of both worlds is not easy but it's not so tough either. Also, there's no such thing as a balance. So, I just "apply" different theorem when the occasion demands. God, sometimes science is fun! And being a girl, oh hell yeah!
Don't get me wrong. I know I am a species of the female gender but beyond that, the identities that one is supposed to identify with, was always a mystery. From what I remember of Sociology in school and Political Science in college, I know that identity is a major part of who we are as a person and plays a vital role in our development, socially and psychologically. Identity differentiates the terrorist from the socialite and helps one understand why people are the way they are.
Which brings us to the question that was always in my mind when I started with my "social life". As a carefree child, identifying with "girldom" was not so important. In fact the mere thought of it didn't even think of crossing my mind. (Thank you Douglas Adams.) So I played like children, got dirty, had my knees scraped to the bone, was thrown out of class for talking a lot and wondered (a lot) about what happens beneath a skirt and what lives inside pants.
When I started watching television and saw the characters and the cliches, I wondered how girls are. What are they made of? (Sugar and spice and everything nice?) What do they like? Why do they talk in cryptic tongues? Why did they get sad or happy suddenly? Why did they need men?
All this is very interesting when viewed from an anthropological perspective. As an embedded observer, I did get quite a lot of insight from unsuspecting girl friends, their friends and sworn enemies. I came up with a lot of theories which were proven right and then wrong. The research took years and everything that I thought was "the answer" would sometimes not apply. No hypothesis was the final one. My own knowledge was constantly questioned and doubted upon. And I always thought, "How could I be wrong?"
Well as it turns out, you are only as good a scientist when you know you are one. Before that, you are a researcher constantly coming up with data and analysis but not getting to the point. On the subject of girls, science takes a back seat but everything has to be viewed logically. Logic and reason are key factors that govern the lives of girls. I realize that general thought doesn't support that but it's true. Girls think multiple times of the consequences of their actions. Which is why they are a mystery to the people who take split second decisions easily.
And then I thought, being logical comes easy to me, why doesn't being a girl?
The answer: Don't overthink it.
We're people as well, a little higher on the IQ ladder than our peers and with loads of experience. We're also prone to using our brains to their limit which is why analysis is easy. It's just that our expertise has been used in areas like making the correct amount of food for a family that can last two days without wastage. And I also managed to figure out the skirts and pants issue, in the end :) In that department too, I advise: Don't overthink it.
Well I tried being a girl and it was fun. I tried to not think too hard and I got the chance to clear my mind a bit. While my analytic side bores some people to death, my girly side gives people a good time as well. The attempt to be the best of both worlds is not easy but it's not so tough either. Also, there's no such thing as a balance. So, I just "apply" different theorem when the occasion demands. God, sometimes science is fun! And being a girl, oh hell yeah!
