I have to disagree with you on this. I love these introspective pieces-- you slice a sideview of Mary's soul for the rest of us to look at.

Nothing, nothing gets me more interested in gender studies than stories like yours. Numbers, statistics, etc do not bring home the suffocation that your story does.

Mary is the same as Peter: bright, brave, and bold hearted but utterly hobbled by rigid gender roles.

You make me feel the bars pressing in, the rigid ropes of proper behavior chafing, confining, containing-- your words made me rub my arms in sympathy.

I was born and raised in a gilded world in a golden age; no voice was raised against me telling me 'you can't' you won't' 'you shouldn't' for the simple fact of my sex.

This post remains me how lucky I am.