It begins with the birth of the child
as only floral and feminine
pinks adorn the little fairy,
symbolising the rosy but confined life
of a beautiful home with picket fences,
the parents wish their little one.
The heavenly blue on the other hand
are strictly reserved for baby boys
who are destined to cover the vast
expanses of the limitless skies
the way eagles soar high unencumbered
from the earthly trappings.
The toys come next and we see
dainty dolls with unattainable
standards of anatomical perfection
pouring in those pink nurseries
as each birthday brings heaps of presents
furthering the stereotype.
And the parents fondly see their little one
coo with satisfaction as she makes
tea for her make-believe husband
in the kitchen set as she plays House.
But, it's the fast moving hotwheel cars,
the noisiest action figurines and the
biggest Nerf-guns along with Mechanix sets
that are gifted only to her brother
so that from early on, he learns
that boys don't cry and
what it takes to be a Man.
-Neha Bansal
