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Re: Shawn and Shawna
I know a Shawn. Unfortunately she's not a very nice girl. Occasionally, rude people would ask her why she has a boy's name. Kids in her elementary school I'm sure all thought of this, but kept the question to themselves. She was just Shawn. But when she went to junior high, people were much more confused. I think suspect they started becoming much more open-minded by highschool though. But really her name always struck me as being slightly too masculine. I don't mind Shawna. I met the sweetest girl with this name. But her brother was named Shawn...now I think that's a little ridiculous.
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From what I have read on the subject I think children develop like that. I think in elementary school, at that age, children just accept things as they are much more. So if a girl is called Shawn, then they just accept it, unless someone, someone older maybe, draws attention to it. Even then, I think the children forget about it again more quickly. As children get older, I think they look at similarities and differences and also gender distinctions. So yes, again, I think middle school might be a time when most attention gets drawn to it. Both girls and boys emphasizing it is different. At high school, children are more mature of course and also children are more into developing personal identities and become a bit more confident in themselves. I imagine there, if she is comfortable with her name, then it could be a plus at that age with the individuality and uniqueness of it. Good points.I agree with you about Shawna and Shawn. That makes me cringe at the thought of it.
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