Some time ago, I was discussing some IT-related project with a guy via MSN. Note: It was our first “meeting”. My nick on msn was “cherry: checking in..”

Italics mine

Half way through our discussions..

A: Hey dude…*Don’t know why he started calling me dude..*

Me: Hi..

A: Are you a guy?

Me: What do you think?

A: I think you are a guy.

Me: Ok..*I decided to drop the subject as I wanted to discuss “more serious” stuff instead*

Then we continued to talk about projects and I logged off after that.

As I was “grooming” in front of the mirror, the thought of why he assumed that I was a guy struck me real bad. I was VERY VERY CURIOUS. So l logged on again.

Me: Just curious, what makes you think I am a guy?

A: Erm..cos you talked like a business man.

Me: Mm..OK.

A: So are you a guy??

Me: Can’t you see from my msn picture? (My rabbit and I)

A: No, it doesn’t show. Can you send me your picture?

Me: Er..can’t do. But you could tell from my nick right?

A: Mmm..cherry… I know “Cherrie” is a lady’s name but I am not sure if “Cherry” is.

Me: Ah I see..*Ya ya..Cherry is not a lady’s name but a fruit’s right?? Roll eyes*.
I am a lady actually.

A: Wow..!! May I ask how old you are?

Me: …. *Tneh! A wrong question to ask*

A: Let me guess….older than me??

Me: *roll eyes – how am I supposed to know how old this fella is* I am not sure of your age either.

A: Oh! I am 29. I think you’re older than me.

*TNEH!!!!! BIG HUGE MISTAKE*
Me: I see..

A: So how old are you??

Me: Let’s just put the age issue aside. After all, I don’t think it matters, right? :)

My point of this entry is not to make him look bad, but to think how much social context can influence our perceptions in life.

At the first look, he may sound stupid or wrong. But what determines the gender of names?

Why is the name of “CHERRY” exclusive to female? Is it because of its colour? And red is associated with lipstick, nail polish, HOT? But red is also the colour for Ferarri, Marlboro what…

Is it the shape? If so, can a guy be named as “Banana“?

How was this social context developed? By who and by what?

For example, Berry, Larry and Mary. They all sound pretty similar, don’t they? Then what make a certain group of people think any of them is more masculine than others?

How could Audrey be a female’s name while >Audley and Aubrey be male’s?

Some names and meanings can be traced from the history. It carries meaning and certainly, some names carry masculine meaning such as strong, provider, hunter and etc. But not all names are as such. Perhaps someone along the timeline just decided to tell his friends that xxx is a FEMININE name and it has become a feminine name since then.

Just as we thought everybody thinks like everybody. Do you think people from other countries/cultures view “Cherry” as a feminine name? Just like the guy who thought I was a man. Perhaps, that is how his “social context” has shaped his perception towards the name of “Cherry”?

Posted under Thoughts & musings | [5] Comments