Saturday, June 11, 2011

Baby X - So What!

About the Toronto couple who named their baby "Storm" and refuse to disclose Storm's gender. http://articles.cnn.com/2011-06-02/opinion/rose.gender_1_gender-specific-girls-and-boys-toronto-parents?_s=PM:OPINION  Nothing new here folks.  Thirty four years ago, those of us who considered ourselves feminists wondered if we should, could do the same with our children.  One friend went so far as to insist that I buy dresses for my baby boy.  Science has come a long way in the 34 years.  We've learned that Baby Storm will very shortly after birth most likely start behaving as a baby of whatever gender he/she is (with a few exceptions).  What is more important than keeping the gender a secret, is presenting all options in toys and play irrespective of the baby's sex. Treating the child's preferences with respect and encouraging exploration without labeling behaviors and expressions as male or female is the way to go. In other words, parents should laud and cultivate the "Free to Be You and Me"  http://www.freetobefoundation.org or this video of the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_26FOHoaC78 attitude.
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  1. TonyJune 14, 2011 at 2:10 PM

    I don't know. I sometimes am amazed at how much of a boy, how gendered, my baby has become, by 15 months. Some of it has to be from how society, and his parents, act around him. What if we had named him Francis and dressed him in purple socks on odd days and blue socks on even days?

    Now I may have appreciated a few tasteful sundresses in my own youth...

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