half_bloodreader 's review for:

I Think Our Son Is Gay, Vol. 04 by Okura

4.0

emotional hopeful reflective

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"If a queer or gay person can become an object of ridicule just for being who they are... I would hate for our son to be in that position someday. Treating gay and queer people like that, as if they're a joke feels the same as saying "Mm, yeah, they're not normal." I think it's alienating. It's kind of like saying they're from a different world, that they're not a part of ours." 

Good news, everyone! Daigo finally fixed that artichoke he had for a haircut on the back of his head 🤭😆🤭 

Like always, I'm happily recommending this series! It's family friendly, could be a conversation starter, humanises everyone. The mother isn't perfect, no matter how much I love her, but she has an open mind and is willing to let those assumptions and stereotypes be taken down as she becomes aware of them. Besides, she respects her sons' boundaries and wants them to be themselves 🤧 

I believe it's a great way of showing that honest conversation, where you illustrate your povs can really go a long way. We all label things, that's how our brain works, but change and acceptance are possible with exposure, patience, tolerance and love. That being said, don't harm yourself when you're in a toxic environment/household, as we can't force someone to change if they aren't open to it. Self-care first. 

"When we compliment girls, we say they're "cute". When we compliment boys, we say they're "cool". We draw lines between them without even realizing it. But it's fine for a girl to be cool and a boy to be cute." 

This volume once again reflects on Tomoko's sons, particularly Hiroki. But it also tackles other social constructs, concepts, mentalities that lead to what are meant as compliments to come off hurtful. Example: 

"Getting married isn't about winning or losing. A lot of married folks have a "holier than thou" attitude, like they're a step above single people. It doesn't sit right with me." 👏👏 Straight from a character who's getting married about being told he's now "on the winning team" aka married people! 😤 

"Yuri often talks about how he's not interested in love. Maybe he feels everything always boiling down to romance is too oppressive? After watching our sons, I feel like any form a relationship takes is just fine no matter what your gender." 

The younger son is very relatable to me. Why does romance and almost everything else always have to come before friendship? "There's no such thing as boy-girl friendships" is so hurtful! Why should we invest our platonic feelings then, if the other person is only looking for another kind of relationship from the start? 

Anyway, just read this! And remember, that's someone else's child you're mocking or hating on.