Recently a news story about a canadian couple raising a child to be gender neutral, exploded all over the net.
Here's the original article below;
http://parentingsguide.com/2011/05/canadian-couple-wont-reveal-childs-gender-the-mommy-files/
The article talks about how the family lets the children choose what toys they want to play with, what they want to wear, if they want to be home schooled or go to a public school. So why are they under such fire?
Our culture and media is obsessed with gender. It's how we are placed in a demographic by the media, it's used to defined our actions as 'manly' or 'girly'. It's such a part of our society today, that anything that crosses over the line into the opposite territory there seems to be a media fire there to voice their opinion.
But why is that grey area between boy and girl such a big deal?
Media doesn't always seem to accurately portray transgendered, or gender neutral individuals in a very positive way.
It's not like someone who is gender neutral or transgendered has any effect on your life whatsoever, them being who they are or want to be doesn't hurt you in any way. Everyone should be intitled to live their life the way that makes them happy, and if you don't like or agree with someone else's lifesytle, then look away.
So why, as a society do we feel the need to be entitled on how to tell someone how to parent their child?
I interpreted the story as simply a human interest piece, stating the story, letting it raise some questions and to really get people thinking about how their parenting style is different to this on, and how they might be open minded to accepting this way of parenting a child.
Think of the way your parents raised you and the colours as well as the types of toys they gave you. Where they associated with your gender?
The pressures of gender seperation influence parenting styles, and helps shape how the next generation view gender.
I personall support these parents in how they are raising their child, becasue ultimately it is their business how they raise their child and nobody else's.
If your interested in viewing some more opinions, check out this disscusion lead by Dr.Drew sharing their thoughts on this specific article.
http://fitperez.com/2011-05-25-gender-free-child-discussion?from=PHheadline
I believe there is a line where we let the parents decide how the nurture their child but when what the parents are doing will cause psychological harm, that is where others need to step in. Let the child choose what toys it wants to play with, but don't confuse it by dressing in cloths meant for a specific gender then switching it the next day. what they're doing will mess up the child and isolate it from its peers.
ReplyDeleteJhonna Dark said ...
ReplyDeleteI think what these parents are doing is GREAT. It can give the child so much more to enjoy. Instead of being fixed in the norm they can do things from both sides!!!!
As a child I don't really think I was put into a female vice. My room was yellow. I played with cars AND dolls. I played sports but I also dressed as a princess...and a witch. I was a child teacher but also a doctor. I did things from both genders and my parents let me, maybe bacuse most of my cousins are male so...thats what we did but I think I got so much more out of it because now I don't feel as if I need to be that femine girl that many are brought up to be. I can do what I want and its natural to me!