gender enforcement

[metaphortunate]

Things the baby has ostensibly done recently to cause people to say "Wow, you've really got a boy there, haven't you?"

1) Opened kitchen drawer, flung out piece of tupperware
2) Climbed up slide at playground

Things I believe the baby has ACTUALLY done recently to cause people to say "Wow, you've really got a boy there, haven't you?"

Received a short haircut.

Reason for hypothesis

Previous to the haircut, the most common question upon meeting him was "Boy or girl?"

Alternate hypothesis

Perhaps the haircut has caused him to behave in a more masculine fashion?

Evidence supporting alternate hypothesis

None. Baby behavior has not noticeably changed.

Evidence supporting initial hypothesis

People are extremely good at finding patterns and then noticing evidence to support those patterns and discarding evidence that does not.

Conclusion

GRRARGH PEOPLE WHY YOU GOTTA BE LIKE THAT.

Comments

[metaphortunate]

Yeah, I'd like to see what kind of haircut I ended up with if I insisted on screaming and thrashing about as much as possible while I was getting it cut!

[kate_nepveu]

Oh dear.

(I used to cut SteelyKid's bangs in her sleep. Sneak in, catch the bits in my hand. Same as with nails.)

Also, the rate at which children become _less_ bald has nothing to do with the ways adults become _more_ bald, which many people seem to think.

[metaphortunate]

Huh - actually, the Junebug was born with what looked like a classic receding hairline, and in his case, it was an encroaching hairline!