While reading these articles, I was able to think back to my own childhood and reflect on my own gender identity. I was not the typical girl growing up. I had an older brother and I think that had a lot to do with it. First, I hated playing with Barbies. I remember on my fourth birthday one of my friends gave me Barbies, and I immediately cut the hair to a short haircut. I didn't like having those Barbies! Also, my mom dressed me in my brother's "hand me down" clothes, so I was always mistaken for a boy. I had a short hair cut and I commonly wore navy blue and green. My mom still laughs when she tells me about people saying hello to me in the supermarket by saying, "Hey Buddy." I think I can attribute this to my mother being sort of a tom boy growing up and also having an older brother. My mom played many sports and did not take on the traditional female role. My mother was always out on the lawn mower, gardening, and playing soccer with us in our yard.