Rusty is my childhood self. When my brother and I were small he told everyone in the neighborhood he was Batman. I was supposed to be Robin, but Robin was too "Girly" to me, so I changed it to "Rusty". "Batman and Rusty" introduced themselves all over the neighborhood, and for years, neighbors were under the impression that I was really named Rusty. Why Rusty? Having a brother only 11 months older than myself I was acutely aware of the difference in attention we received. As well as the complements we got. Mike was smart and talented. I was pretty and sweet. Mike was listened to. I was cut off. I was not a girl like people seemed to think I should be. I loved horses, crayons, the number 8, soccer, nursery rhymes, scale miniatures, especially doll houses, singing and art, but I did not like the "pretty, timid, shy, cuteness" that I felt people tried to tell me to be. The words I would describe myself with would be tough, smart, curious, adventurous, talented and competitive. From the youngest age I could sense the limitations my gender would handicap me with. By 9 I was told I could not play with the boys, who played kickball (I was the best kicker), baseball, (I was the best hitter), and adventures in dungeons and space. Instead I was given a group of girls to call my "friends". They played hopscotch. They gossiped. I was so bored. I ran off and found my real friends. As tough as Rusty was, she did get beat by gender biases eventually. She learned to use her looks to charm, or would pretend to be innocent and a bit dim to get out of trouble. She learned her looks carried her further than her achievements, and she stopped dreaming of becoming a lawyer, or a marine biologist, or a truck driver. I became a secretary. Rusty pictured in this design on my 8th birthday, holding my balloons with my little party hat. There is nothing I want more than for girls to be that playful, tough, intelligent striver. A girl who never experiences not being taken seriously because of her gender. I have hope that we have come far enough into equality that this can happen for many girls.
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Fabric Details
Petal Signature Cotton®
Design #7734491Everyday-use cotton for quilting, crafts and apparel
- Estimated shrinkage: 5-6% in length and 2-3% in width
- Perfect for quilting, craft projects, costuming, toys and accessories.
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About the Design
Rusty's friends do lots of exciting things! Frog hunting, sports, magic and saving the day!
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