If you have not already heard about Baby storm, a couple in Toronto, Canada has decided to keep their child’s gender a secret from the world so that he or she doesn’t have to fit a stereotype while growing up. Apparently, the society doesn’t like this. They think this will harm the child.
Why did they decide to do that? Well, they have two sons before baby Storm and they let them dress the way they want, instead of stereotypical boy outfits. Apparently, society don’t like that either. So they decided to raise baby Storm as a genderless baby so he or she can choose to wear whatever he or she wants and don’t face discrimination like his or her older siblings. (I heard the story over the radio in Canada and can’t find the link).
This has become an international controversy. The major complain I have heard (it has been worded in many different way) so far is how this child will be ostracized by the society (you think?)/ how difficult it will be for the child to function in the society without a gender!
What do you think?
On a side note, have you heard about Androgynous life style? Also did you know the pink and blue color assignment to girls and boys was a commercial endeavor and has only become popular in 20th century. A 1918 trade journal, The Infant’s Department, said:
If our society become a bit less obsessed with stereotypes, life will be so much easier for all of us. Men won’t be expected to be macho and hide their feeling, women won’t have to prove themselves at every turn of their career and still get discriminated.
Why did they decide to do that? Well, they have two sons before baby Storm and they let them dress the way they want, instead of stereotypical boy outfits. Apparently, society don’t like that either. So they decided to raise baby Storm as a genderless baby so he or she can choose to wear whatever he or she wants and don’t face discrimination like his or her older siblings. (I heard the story over the radio in Canada and can’t find the link).
This has become an international controversy. The major complain I have heard (it has been worded in many different way) so far is how this child will be ostracized by the society (you think?)/ how difficult it will be for the child to function in the society without a gender!
What do you think?
On a side note, have you heard about Androgynous life style? Also did you know the pink and blue color assignment to girls and boys was a commercial endeavor and has only become popular in 20th century. A 1918 trade journal, The Infant’s Department, said:
"There has been a great diversity of opinion on the subject, but the generally accepted rule is pink for the boy and blue for the girl. The reason is that pink, being a more decided and stronger color, is more suitable for a boy, while blue, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl." (Guess I belong to that century - Blue is my favourite colour despite being a girl!!)The babies before 1900 wore white dresses. No blue or pink. No gender coding at birth. Somehow I like the concept. Why do we, as in society, need to know the gender of baby anyway? Will it change their behaviour if its a baby girl or baby boy? If not, then why colour code babies or tod?
If our society become a bit less obsessed with stereotypes, life will be so much easier for all of us. Men won’t be expected to be macho and hide their feeling, women won’t have to prove themselves at every turn of their career and still get discriminated.
That is certainly strange news. I mean... yes, he way society butts its collective nose into everybody's business is annoying, and there is something to be said for people who are ready to jump against conventional norms... but then again... there is taking it too far.
ReplyDeleteOn the one hand, the parents are preserving the child's right to choose for him/herself. The right to choose how to appear to the world - he could grow up to be a lipstick wearing skirt clad dude... or she could be a crew cut sporting, fart-joke spewing gal...
But on the other hand, they are denying the child's right to choose for him/herself. The right to not be ridiculed by peers, the right to not be looked at as a walking freak-show, the right to make friends and influence people...
Like it or not, man is a social animal, and society is entrenched in conventions. Yes, be radical if you want, but let's not stray too far.
Besides, not ALL conventions are bad... You know why 2 comes after 1? Because at some point, someone just laid out the sequence as 1 2 3 4.... and we've all been following that ever since. :)
@Hammy: Am not sure I agree. Aren't we blaming the parents for the society's fault? Rather, aren't we blaming the vicitm instead of preparator? I know what everyone will say to that: We can't change society so let's try changing them. But if we had that attitude we as a society would have never changed.
ReplyDeleteSome women went radical and studied engineering. Society didn't accept it then but they opened the way for the future generation to do so.
I think its a way forward. I think its a way to tell the society to stop stereotyping the genders. Let the kids be kids and humans be humans. let them grow to be what they can be instead of what they should be.