The G is Silent

Not the “G” in thong. That’s pronounced. So let’s start there. 

(Addendum: I have since gotten some enlightening views from my very brilliant friends. Feel free to comment with your perspective. I really am trying to understand this phenomenon.)

The other day, infuriated, I got onto our neighborhood board to lament about the bad behavior being exhibited by teenagers at our family, neighborhood pool. Well, I wasn’t the only person upset and it started a lengthy stream about poor language, rough play, disrespect and security. I stuck in, “and how about the girls’ attire?” Someone replied, “What attire?” 

I am disturbed by thongs. A) I don’t want to see everything you have to offer and B) I think it sets girls and women back. Well, I got some vitriol from a woman in the neighborhood accusing me of sexualizing the girls. “People who present as girls should be able to wear whatever they want without being harassed or shamed.” I replied, “I’m not sexualizing them, they are doing that all on their own, and no one is harassing or shaming them. These girls are proud of their bodies, and they know how sexy they are.”

Ultimately, I had to take it down, I messaged the woman thanking her for her opinion and that I would certainly take stock of my views. She told me I was old, and that “our” brand of feminism wasn’t inclusive. Granted, of BIPOC women, that may be true, but teenage girls? I don’t even know what that means. Shouldn’t feminism teach respect, focusing on talents and brains over body image, regardless of the generation? I expressed concern that there were young boys at the pool, and how do we explain to them what’s going on? (What I meant was, when they get an erection at the pool, how do we handle that?)

I’m willing to consider her perspective, but after lots of consideration, I disagree. No one is wearing a thong because it’s comfortable. In fact, we all have to be subjected to the “picking the thong out of the butt” phenomenon that without fail accompanies this fashion statement. She proceeded “I taught my son about anatomy at a young age, and when I showed him this he asked, “Why is she looking?”

WTF? So now I’m being shamed by an 8 year old boy for looking? Now I’m old, judgmental and a predator to boot. Thanks lady. 

And, people, the “G” in Long Island is silent. Without fail, when I tell someone I’m from there, they retort with oh, Lon GIsland? It just happened to me in Starbucks. A man was trying to pick me up – I’m flattered – and pulled the G thing. That was the end of that relationship.

We don’t know what that means. No one from Long Island says it like that. Just stop.