bailed
This seemed like a fun, funny idea: ask a bunch of women writers to write on the topic of having a dick for a day. Just over a third through, I‘m finding a few creative responses, but otherwise all are about sex, peeing while standing, or feeling what it‘s like to have automatic respect based on gender. And sadly, there‘s a lot of internalized misogyny here and a seeming desire for toxic masculinity.
GingerAntics Ew. Sure, the sex thing would probably be a curiosity we‘d all like to explore, and probably even the convenience of the peeing thing, but let‘s be a bit more creative here ladies. Plus, let‘s not perpetuate the toxic masculinity. Ugh. I just don‘t get it. 3y
shanaqui I find the concept kind of weird... beyond the physical mechanics, and being perceived as male, what WOULD be different? 3y
Hooked_on_books @GingerAntics Yeah, really disappointing. The very first piece was a short story that was VERY sexual, but super creative. Makes me wonder if that was the only piece in there that didn‘t fall into this trap. 3y
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Hooked_on_books @shanaqui There really shouldn‘t be any differences. Which makes me wonder if that‘s why so many of these writers fell into the stereotype trap in their pieces—they just felt like there wasn‘t anywhere else to go. 3y
GingerAntics @shanaqui well that‘s where I want/need more info. If ALL that‘s different is that one body part, there are two more body parts higher up that would completely negate being seen as male. Perception of self comes into play as well. You would still be you, so if you are female inside, the outside doesn‘t matter. I think the greater experience besides convenience of peeing would be understanding what it would be like to be transgender. 3y
GingerAntics @Hooked_on_books I think the obvious place to go was actually missed. If you are still you, but suddenly your external parts are different, the main thing you‘re probably going to learn is being female on the inside and “male” on the outside. You‘d know what it was like to be transgender. Sadly, I don‘t think anyone thought of that one. You don‘t change. It‘s how the world sees you and insists you act vs what is actually you. 3y
Hooked_on_books @GingerAntics What‘s interesting is that the piece that finally made me bail was written by a lesbian who hinted a bit at transgender but didn‘t quite go there (this was published in the 90s, so keep that in mind). She then proceeded to bash straight women for no good reason. It just made me sad. I feel like this book had the potential to be funny and interesting/thoughtful and sadly it‘s neither. 3y
GingerAntics @Hooked_on_books oooooh, yes everything was absolutely different in the 90s. I have that thought watching 90s tv shows and the way they too toe around or totally freak out about gay or lesbian characters. I always think, yeah lest not even get into trans and gender nonconformity. These characters/this world could not even begin to handle it. 3y
GingerAntics @Hooked_on_books it would be really cool if they did a collection like this again, with different authors from today. It would be cool to see how authors would handle it now. Carefully selecting male authors, there could be a companion book, “Boobs for a Day.” 🤣😂🤣 It would be intriguing I think. Although, if anyone read this attempt, they might be a little gun shy. 3y
Hooked_on_books @GingerAntics I completely agree—I‘d love to see a reattempt at this now. It would certainly be different from this one and, I would like to imagine, quite a bit better. 3y
GingerAntics @Hooked_on_books exactly! 3y
MicheleinPhilly And here I was thinking, “Ooh fun, I‘d like to be a private detective for a day.” 🤦🏻♀️ 3y