A five-year old female’s halloween costume identity dilemma:
5 y.o.: “I’m a cowboy!”.
Grown up: “No, you’re a cowgirl”
5 y.o.: “No, I’m not- I’m a cowboy”.
….
G.u.: “But you’re a girl”
5 y.o.: “Yes. But I’m a cowboy”
And so on…
Similar: this excerpt from Through the Looking-Glass. Break-down is as follows (is called >> ; is =):
Name of Song >> Haddocks Eyes
Name of Song = The Aged Aged Man
The Song >> Ways and Means
The Song = A-Sitting On A Gate
Point being (pun intended)- a 5 year old is not the most suited to try and explain the nuances of gender and identity to most adults. Just as Lewis Carroll might not be the most suited to explain the nuances of Dennis Ritchie’s language to sleep-deprived college kids. Some might get it at first go- but if you haven’t already jumped in and started playing with pointing at stacks…you’re likely going to be debugging the passage for a while.
Without this empathy (or interest/willingness to learn something new)- not only are you left with a resentful, misunderstood 5 year old on the verge of a temper-tantrum- but also with many-a-disgruntled Alices who later go on to leave unpleasant reviews on rate-my-professor.