Is this really an issue? Sounds like the parents are loving and focused on the well being of their kids. I just think it's none of my business. What are your thoughts?
I thought you'd be swamped with comments so I didn't want to hog the floor... ;) but I actually think it's brilliant. I suspect that the child won't remain 'gender unidentified' for too long. The child will self-identify and genetic tendencies will begin to appear (unless there are genetic discrepancies relating to gender as well). This has become a big area of interest to me over the last couple of years as I care for/nurse trans-gendered clients undergoing surgical transitions. I believe we all need some heavy-duty education and myth-busting around gender, LGBT issues, etc. There are brutal stereotypes and stigmas associated with these, esp. in this conservative, judgmental and evangelist-laden Fraser Valley (*read* other nurses I work with).
Anyway, I applaud these parents' efforts to thwart the societal & cultural pressures and allow their child to just 'be'.
What is REALLY interesting about this is all the media buzz about it... they say youtube etc. is our glass-bottomed boat into society's collective consciousness... what's all the uproar about? Leave 'em be and let's get on with all our own gender and sexual issues... lord knows we have enough of them. ;)
I TOTALLY agree! It's not an "experiment" it's just two parents on the same page doing what they believe in. One would think they were giving their kids Botox! Wait...that was the Mom of a "pageant" girl at the age of 8...or working their kid to the bone to lift weights...oh yeah...that was the parents of a 5 year old that made Arnold look weak..or the Mom that made her 6 year old go into tanning booths knowing full well the cancer risks to win a trophy....hmmm....the issues people are appalled of are so skewered...WAKE UP PEOPLE! Gender identity is NOT the issue...the crazy things people do to be the PERFECT gender is WAY more damaging. I'm sure Storm's Mom will not dye her/his hair at age 3 to make her/him more beautiful to the outside world...because they GET it doesn't matter at ALL!
I thought you'd be swamped with comments so I didn't want to hog the floor... ;) but I actually think it's brilliant. I suspect that the child won't remain 'gender unidentified' for too long. The child will self-identify and genetic tendencies will begin to appear (unless there are genetic discrepancies relating to gender as well). This has become a big area of interest to me over the last couple of years as I care for/nurse trans-gendered clients undergoing surgical transitions. I believe we all need some heavy-duty education and myth-busting around gender, LGBT issues, etc. There are brutal stereotypes and stigmas associated with these, esp. in this conservative, judgmental and evangelist-laden Fraser Valley (*read* other nurses I work with).
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I applaud these parents' efforts to thwart the societal & cultural pressures and allow their child to just 'be'.
What is REALLY interesting about this is all the media buzz about it... they say youtube etc. is our glass-bottomed boat into society's collective consciousness... what's all the uproar about? Leave 'em be and let's get on with all our own gender and sexual issues... lord knows we have enough of them. ;)
I TOTALLY agree! It's not an "experiment" it's just two parents on the same page doing what they believe in. One would think they were giving their kids Botox! Wait...that was the Mom of a "pageant" girl at the age of 8...or working their kid to the bone to lift weights...oh yeah...that was the parents of a 5 year old that made Arnold look weak..or the Mom that made her 6 year old go into tanning booths knowing full well the cancer risks to win a trophy....hmmm....the issues people are appalled of are so skewered...WAKE UP PEOPLE! Gender identity is NOT the issue...the crazy things people do to be the PERFECT gender is WAY more damaging. I'm sure Storm's Mom will not dye her/his hair at age 3 to make her/him more beautiful to the outside world...because they GET it doesn't matter at ALL!
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