Diapers Schmiapers

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I am amazed at the lack of diapered kids running around Beijing. Well, so most of them are not yet running, but the fact that they are too young too run seems to indicate that perhaps they are too young to go diaperless. But alas, that isn't so.

My charge's mother was marveling that so many people asked whether my charge was a boy or a girl. Indeed to us, it seems rather obvious that he is a boy, since he wears pants and little button down shirts and has no ribbons in his hair.

But then it occured to me that all of the little boys I have seen his age have been either naked, from the waist down, or wearing an odd sort of clothing that consists of everything you might want except for the lack of a seam down the middle. Thus, it is most obvious about the gender of the child.

I have been rather curious about the purpose of this item of clothing and rather concerned about the lack of the item of clothing we all consider quite necessary. If anything, in the summer you expect to see babies running around with nothing except a diaper on. But no, this is not the case here, and it is very perplexing.

Comments

the girl in the red hat said…
I laughed so hard at this. Next time someone says, "life was so much better back in the good old days", remember this.
In a warm climate without wall-to-wall carpeting, they may well have a point. Diapers, both fabric and disposable, are very high on the list of things polluting the world, I believe.
3:46 PM
Elena Johnston said…
The wuggies do not like wearing diapers. I often find myself selecting their outfits in the morning on the basis of what would be hardest for them to wriggle out of... Nonetheless, they do occasionally manage to remove their diapers while keeping their pants on... sigh...
12:11 PM
sarah marie said…
My Dad spent his early years in China - his first words were even in Chinese! - because my Grandpa was in the military. Anyway, my Grandmother has spoken often of the same phenomena you mention... it's very interesting...
8:18 PM
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