Boys play with trucks and girls play
with dolls. Boys wear blue and girls wear pink. This is how it’s always been
until Gender Neutral Parenting came into the picture.
Gender Neutral Parenting (GNP) is
when parents raise their son or daughter in an environment that eliminates
traditional gender roles. These children are usually given gender
neutral names. Parents encourage their child to play with boys and girls
toys. Their child’s room décor is gender neutral. The clothes they wear are
gender neutral.
One Toronto couple went as far as not disclosing the sex of
their child, Storm, to family and
friends (click here for the May 2011 article and here for the November 2013
article).
Today I read an article in the
Toronto Star about how Sweden has come up with a gender netural pronoun for
boys and girls - “hen”. This has replaced the male pronoun “han” and the female
pronoun “hon”.
Then there’s this video about a
couple who raises their son neither as a boy or girl.
I fear for children that grow up in a gender neutral home and how confused they may become. It's almost as if these parents can't accept the sex of their child.
When it comes to clothing, I believe that parents should dress their child according to their gender. No one should have to guess the sex of the child.
Toys are a different story. I don't see anything wrong with boys playing with dolls or girls playing with action figures.
Instead of parents raising gender neutral children, they should be teaching them about gender equality.
Girls should be raised to believe that even though there's more male Police Officers in society, it's okay for them to pursue that career path. If a boy wants to become a Nurse, parents should encourage him to follow his dreams.
The last thing our society needs are more children who are confused about their identity. God didn't make a mistake when He created your son or daughter so please raise them accordingly.
What are your thoughts on Gender Neutral Parenting? Is this a parenting style you would consider?
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When you get a chance, please visit
my friend Tyrone’s blog. His posts are insightful and very thought
provoking. See his blog here.
Sex is biology. Gender is an identity, a social construct..
ReplyDelete"Boys wear blue and girls wear pink. This is how it’s always been until Gender Neutral Parenting came into the picture."
It used to be the other way around with the colour thing. Personally, my colour growing up was yellow. But whatevs. They're just colours.
Now while I don't agree with gnp, I am all for children making their own choices about clothes, colours, toys, etc... Why limit them?
Gender neutral pronouns are not new. There are many in use now. (they/them, per, zhe, zir...) And this is just in English I'm talking! Respect the pronouns.
Children, teenagers, adults, and elders can and will be confused regardless of their upbringing. Society shouldn't be so stuck on this binary fallacy and let people discover themselves in their own way and own time.
Can't we all just take the middle path?