Okay so probably I would be better off replying to this when I'm not about to have to run off for bed, but it's so awesome I MUST DO IT NOW.
Because you are so right and like...the one thing that gave me pause about using the song for Amy was that I've never seen her as a tomboy either; so much of her identity is powerfully and assertively female. And...I didn't want it to come across as a straight switch like that. But - while I don't want to take away the part of the song that very much is about gender identity - I also don't think that's the crux of what I find powerful and compelling about it. It's about not conforming, it's about being you when being you is hard because people think you should be someone else. It's about not forgetting that and not being forced to grow out of it. And like I said, the song definitely deals with some specifics that don't necessarily map to Amy but I think there's a...deeper emotional resonance that does?
eta!: (In the cold light of the next day – I’d add I think one of the reasons why the childhood/gender roles idea works so well in this context is that, of course, it’s something that’s so hammered into us as children, to the detriment of, probably, us all, whatever our sexual orientation or gender identification – some more than others, obviously, but even those privileged by them – those who are cisgendered and heterosexual, as the song’s protagonists may be, are more harmed than helped by the restrictions imposed on the ways they are allowed to be children, to be boys or girls. Aaaand we’re back to the way it’s one of the most powerful examples of societal identity suckerpunching… ;) /eta
Anyway, I'm so pleased to hear that, given you love the song so much, you think it works for Amy, and, as I said, SO MUCH YES to all your comments about the song itself and what it's about. ♥
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Date: 2011-04-20 10:50 pm (UTC)Okay so probably I would be better off replying to this when I'm not about to have to run off for bed, but it's so awesome I MUST DO IT NOW.
Because you are so right and like...the one thing that gave me pause about using the song for Amy was that I've never seen her as a tomboy either; so much of her identity is powerfully and assertively female. And...I didn't want it to come across as a straight switch like that. But - while I don't want to take away the part of the song that very much is about gender identity - I also don't think that's the crux of what I find powerful and compelling about it. It's about not conforming, it's about being you when being you is hard because people think you should be someone else. It's about not forgetting that and not being forced to grow out of it. And like I said, the song definitely deals with some specifics that don't necessarily map to Amy but I think there's a...deeper emotional resonance that does?
eta!: (In the cold light of the next day – I’d add I think one of the reasons why the childhood/gender roles idea works so well in this context is that, of course, it’s something that’s so hammered into us as children, to the detriment of, probably, us all, whatever our sexual orientation or gender identification – some more than others, obviously, but even those privileged by them – those who are cisgendered and heterosexual, as the song’s protagonists may be, are more harmed than helped by the restrictions imposed on the ways they are allowed to be children, to be boys or girls. Aaaand we’re back to the way it’s one of the most powerful examples of societal identity suckerpunching… ;) /eta
Anyway, I'm so pleased to hear that, given you love the song so much, you think it works for Amy, and, as I said, SO MUCH YES to all your comments about the song itself and what it's about. ♥
(OMGS THREE SLEEPS TO RIVERRRRR.)