The amount of scolding…

The amount of scolding Jo endures in the first chapter of Little Women for her wild, unwomanly ways, is really quite startling. We spent some time in class talking about the ways friends and family coerce us into performing appropriate femininity (and masculinity).

I talked a bit about my mother's efforts to get me to wear nicely put together 'outfits,' and also to make sure that I dressed modestly -- sleeveless tops were not allowed when I was growing up, for example. One female student talked about being asked to moderate her (loud) voice, and one male student said that his father told him he wasn't supposed to cry, basically ever.

What about you? Have you ever had friends and family try to get you to be more 'feminine' or 'manly'?