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I was close to my brother and so naturally, I wanted to do the same thing. I got my way, but it was only because “yes, girls should learn self-defence, just in case”and “ballet gives you chunky calves”.
In my class, the boys always had the tougher tasks, and us girls were let off easy. When I realised I wasn’t so good at it, my parents didn’t pressure me to continue, the way they did with my brother, because boys need to learn to persevere.
Now that I’m older, I can see where and how these events branched off and led me down a particular path.