Yea i know. I dress cute. I am loud. I have adhd and the tism. I am very expressive and flail-y. but like,,,, GIRLIE NO.
It only REALLY bothers me because people use it as an excuse to undermine my autonomy tbh. Like when people see my rainbow outfits and stuff, or hell even my SOURCE, they go "yeah okay you're an adult...but not reaAAALLLY because you don't do and look like and say what I think an adult should." It makes me want to SCREAM like no I do know what's best for me and I do know my own opinions on politics and no I do NOT need you to talk to me in a baby voice and over explain everything, I will LITERALLY PUNCH YOU.
I know my source kinda ran with the gremlin child joke but IDK how he doesn't punt half his fanbase across the room tbh
it's way worse when it's used to imply that people like me can't date or be crushed on. Like... oml. that person or character can't be cute or sexy because they're "child-coded"? well i think you are bully-coded and also mean-coded and AAAAARUGHGGHHHGH-I-WANNA-BITE-YOU-coded. Like a dog toy. thrashing and foaming at the mouth and throwing you back and forth in my mouth right now. ripping you apart and burying you and then digging you back up and bringing you to the park right now. Gnawing and chewing and barking and tearing and going absolutely hog fucking wild on you right now