When a boy is born, the first thing you should do is put him in blue. Don’t put him in pink or others might think he’s a girl. Dress him in blue, and don’t break these rules: raise a boy knowing he will one daybe a man, backbone of his family, society.Inspire strength in him from a young age. He mustgo outside, run around, be rough, and play,chase girls (he’ll be a heartbreaker one day).Let him have toy trucks and Legos but neverdolls; action figures are okay. Let him make messes but he shouldn’t clean them up. Let himbe loud and take up space so he’ll grow up proud. If he’s vulgar and crude, that’s okay, he’s a dudein the making. If he falls down, have him brushoff any bruises and tell him to shush if he lets emotions seep out. He can pout, he should rage and yell, but teach him to tell tears “farewell.” You can’t let him be weak or soft when he speaks. And don’t let him like pink stuff, put on makeup, or paint his nails—he’s male. He can’t wear whatever, like a dress, unless you want to raise an unmanly mess. The following should be stressed: if there’s one thing a boy should never be it’s feminine.
*This poem is from a larger sequence of poetry Sarah composed on Harry Styles and redefining gender norms/masculinity titled Do You Know Who You Are?
