Identity

As I am on the verge of a new beginning, engaged to be married in 3 months, I find myself contemplating the concept of identity. It all started with shoe shopping. One of my bridesmaids commented about needing to buy shoes and I suddenly found myself actually excited to plan a shopping date with my friend. Preparing for this wedding I have found myself embracing some of the more "classically feminine" behaviors. I've come to realize that at 29 years old I'm still trying to figure out who I am. I have embraced the opportunity to try things I never got to do growing up. I didn't go shopping for prom dresses with friends, or pick out shoes, or get my hair done up. Only as an adult have I been able to try these things. I am still trying to figure out what I like or don't like. I'm still trying to understand what it is to be a woman, to be "female."

Not long ago I had an interesting conversation with a co-worker. With gender identity being a topic of conversation these days we were wondering what it actually means to identify as a  woman. I can't tell you what makes me who I am or how I know I'm not something different. If we put stereotypes aside there really is no one-size-fits-all definition. Maybe there is a future where we don't have to identify as anything at all, where we can just be who we are without putting labels on it.

Sadly I think we are still a long ways from that.