I was perplexed by the question. What’s the difference? They explained: “Should I tiptoe and watch my manners around you or be blunt? Flirtatious or chill? Brag about my sexual conquests or talk about our feelings? When you’re sad, do I hug you and buy you ice cream or do we go grab some beers? Should I wonder if we’ll ever hook up?”
I’m not sure if I’m more appalled or confused by this mindset. I thought everyone treated their friends the same regardless of their gender identity. Is this just a fringe case of toxic masculinity, or is this really how the average cis person sees the world?
I had no idea thr opposite was a thing tbh. Personally, I’ve always treated boys and girls (or men and women) differently, I assumed everyone did this ? Not deliberately -as a matter of fact I’ve only noticed rather late, probably in my late teens. I can only surmise that it’s social conditioning. Just like in your story, it became evident when I met someone who was neither obviously a man nor obviously a woman: I realized I didn’t know how to act and was completely thrown off.
Lately I have come to observe that the sexual differences I thought were deep were in fact pretty shallow, and I found myself trying to “see” men as women and conversely, in an effort to break down this conditioning. But to be frank I thought I was doing something completely original… I would never have guessed anyone else had naturally attained this ambitious goal I set for myself !