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Girl or Boy? We'll Never Tell!
July 1, 2009 at 6:58 AM by Cafe Suzanne - Comments (15)
Who cares?
Some parents like to keep their baby's gender a secret before it's born, but not many hide that information after it's born. This couple does.
A Swedish couple has refused to reveal whether their child, Pop (now 2), is a boy or a girl. The parents made their decision based on the feminist philosophy that gender is a social construction.
"We want Pop to grow up more freely and avoid being forced into a specific gender mold from the outset," Pop’s mother, 24, said. "It's cruel to bring a child into the world with a blue or pink stamp on their forehead."
The child's parents said so long as they keep Pop’s gender a secret, he or she will be able to avoid preconceived notions of how people should be treated if male or female.
Pop wears both dresses and pants, and Pop's hairstyle changes on a regular basis.
“Ignoring children's natures simply doesn’t work,” says psychologist Susan Pinker in The Local, a Swedish newspaper. "Child-rearing should not be about providing an opportunity to prove an ideological point, but about responding to each child’s needs as an individual."
On the other hand, gender equality consultant Kristina Henkel told the paper that the experiment could have positive results. "Without these gender stereotypes, children can build character as individuals, not hindered by preconceived notions of what they should be as males or females."
What do you think about this? Would our babies better off if we raised them without a gender?
FILED UNDER: in the news
Comments:
Gosh I don't even know what to say about this. Although I don't see how it would truly work unless the child never knew what anybody elses gender is. It seems like it would be asking for disaster when if he is boy realizes he is the only boy wearing dresses.
Yeah, I don't see how this can possibly last for long, unless they find a way to keep the gender even from the child itself. This just seems cruel to the child.
I dont think this is the way to go about "avoiding preconceived notions". It can have a severe effect on this child mentally and emotionally. And i doubt the secret of the childs gender could be kept quiet for long.
I'm understanding WHY they want to do this but the means of reaching the goal isn't rubbing me the right way. It seems rather cruel, to be honest. I'm struggling to not be judgemental on this and I have to tell you that I am REALLY not liking it, lol. I'm concerned that the child will grow up confused and be even more sexually "lost" than most children. I hope that this turns out great but it definitely doesn't sound right at this moment.
That's the most idiotic thing I have ever heard now eveyrthing seems to be an issue GEZZZZ. I wanted to know what I'm having to buy TONS of blue or pink baby stuff. You will find out sooner or later anyway so why not to know for the beganing to be prepared. If it's a boy he will wearing boy's clothes in boy colors and doubt he gets traumatized for that.
that makes no cents y would u do that?...
I think this is fascinating. I get so tired of my 6yo asking if gender-neutral-looking people are men or women first thing. It's like he doesn't even know how to think about them until he knows for sure. And I find that sad. On the other hand, there's lots to celebrate about being a boy and being a girl, and we'd hate to lose that. I don't know. Seems perfectly harmless in the younger years, and I'm all for letting the child "express" his or her biological gender when it comes naturally rather than when society says we need to care (generally at birth).
I dont know what to think O,o
well I think that he/she might not be treated differently beacuse of the gender but differently because everyone is going to be wondering! I mean your having a conversation with the child and in your head it'll be "hummm I wonder boy? girl?" poor kids is going to have so many problems these parents just seem to want to get the attention
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I just found out what I am having and I told everyone. I have 2 boys so I was hoping for a girl and I am having one. Everyone was hoping for a girl-however we all just wanted a healthy baby but a girl would just...well complete it all. After I told everyone-there was so much happiness and tears. I know I made the right decision-it is up to the parents.
amybuddy45 Jul. 1, 2009 at 8:26 AM