Renee's Gender Bio

I grew up in a house dominated by women. Most days, I lived with my mom and older sister in an all-girls household, and most of the role models in my life were strong, independent women. Being a girly girl always seemed natural to me. I was inclined towards activities like gymnastics and dance, rather than team sports, and my parents supported my desires. I remember playing dress up games and pretending to cook meals in a toy kitchen, and I especially remember my grandmother dressing my sister and I up in hula girl outfits. My moms insistence that women should only stay home if they want to, and my observance of a house in which a female dominated, contrasted with the games and activities I played that placed women in a certain household role.
Nevertheless, I did pick up one questionable generalization about females. I learned from a young age that I had the ability to smile and sweet talk my way into what I wanted. I remember ordering ice cream in a restaurant during my early years of elementary school. When my ice cream arrived, it was partially melted. Jokingly, I pouted at the waiter and said disappointedly, “it’s melted.” To my shock, the waiter whisked it away and returned with a new, frozen bowl of ice cream. My comment was only intended as a playful joke, and I had no idea that the waiter would respond that way. In fact, my parents were actually upset with me, feeling like I had inconvenienced the waiter and complained when it wasn’t necessary. Looking back, I wonder now if I would have made that same comment had the server been a woman. However, regardless of my parents’ reaction, I know that this incident encouraged me to believe that most women carry the ability to manipulate others, whether they choose to act on this ability or not.