Oh, I’m quite sure they would’ve tried to convince me I was a boy! I tagged along with my just-older-than-me brother on his outdoor adventures for as long as he would let me. I think he started complaining to mom and dad that I was getting in his way. Then I was called to look after my little sister and play with her more, which I obediently did.
Still, they could never quite get me to not play outside, so out came the dolls and with my little sister in tow, we would make our own outdoor adventures underneath the trees, a little tamer. I got dirty hands and scraped knees plenty but didn’t care to whine about it. I didn’t want to be called a sissy girl by my older brother, even if playing with dolls and making pretend food was also as fun as being as cowgirl.
I’m female. Hated dolls. Dressed as astronaut in 1964 for Halloween. Space and science fiction nerd, also MAD magazine. Wanted to play with my male cousins’ cool toys. Hated girlie stuff but DID want a dress up doll...when I was 12. Never again after. Have driven trucks all my life (first vehicle was ‘66 Bronco with a snow plow). In male occupations, construction. Took commercial diving instruction. Science nerd. Not really a feminine dresser, I am sartorially challenged. BUT I LOVE MEN!!!!! As naive as I was, they could have shunted me in that direction. God help us all.