7 Jun 2011

TOO SHORT, TOO TALL, TOO FAT, TOO THIN ......

.... You have ginger hair, you wear glasses, you have braces on your teeth.


Whether we like it or not, there is no getting away from the fact that children can be cruel with any perceived differences seen as fair game, a reason to bully.


Once upon a time coming from a one-parent family marked you as different, then with rise of the so-called celebs came the wacky names - Morrocan, Kal-El, Pilot Inspektor being just three of the top 10 wacky celebrity baby names according to one website (click HERE for the other seven).


But its not wacky names that have got shaking my head in puzzlement today, no, its the parents of Storm the 'genderless' baby that has got me wondering.


Genderless baby? Surely you must have seen some kind of media coverage. 


No?


Well ...... 


Storm has been given the title of genderless not because of a medical condition whereby they are of unspecified gender but because his/her parents have chosen not to let anyone in on the secret that is their baby's sex - nope, depending on which newspaper you read,its not even clear if Storm's grandparents know whether their grandchild is a boy or a girl.


Ok, so up to a point I can why a child's gender could be viewed as a hindrance - all of that business of blue for boys and pink for girls, dollies for Paula and construction kits for Paul BUT surely this is taking it all a bit far.


Going back to my earlier statement that children can perceive any differences as a reason to bully, it has already been reported that Storm's two older brothers who are also being raised to be 'gender creative' are often mistaken as girls (we are informed they often choose to wear pink feather boas and dresses)with other children refusing to play with 'it'.


Then of course there's the fact that at some stage or other what's 'down below' often becomes of huge interest with children agreeing 'I'll show you mine if you show me yours'. Can you just imagine how much more interest will be shown in what this poor child has 'down below'?


So, believing their children 'can make choices to be whoever they want to be' are these parents right to give their children the opportunity to do so OR are they conducting some kind of social experiment as some experts argue? It's over to you......


Lilly of The Lilly Pad who, amongst other things, has this to say on the matter 


Storms older brothers often get told to act more like boys and to change their appearance. They probably get teased and bullied by the way they choose to look, just because it's different than what people want them to look like. I hope they keep their own styles, and if they change it, that they change it because they want to, and not because of what other people say. At the same time, I hope they don't get any problems later in life because of other people's comments. - Click HERE to see the rest of the post.





18 comments:

My Gallery of Worlds said...

I believe children should be whoever they want to be, but I don't see the reasons for all the gender secrecy. Gender shouldn't be a taboo

Kavita Saharia said...

I don't see any benefit here or may be i don't understand it .

Misha said...

I think children should have the right to decide for themselves, but I really don't get the point of hiding the gender.

Monalisa said...

I've seen a lot of people who for some reason wanted to be the opposite gender and turned themselves so after complicated surgeries and processes. And they enjoy their life being the opposite gender. But i would say why shun your inborn characteristics and turn yourself out to be someone else? If its that the person hates himself/herself for what he/she is, isn't it just a matter of time? Like the petty witty writer says,once you are Real, you can't be ugly. So its all about getting Real i would say.

dr.antony said...

I dont know if it makes any difference these days.Children don't have options.I wonder what is wrong with the parents who hide the gender?Something must be wrong.

chitra said...

Gender secrecy, Haven't heard about that here . News to me.

Patti said...

I read that story and was blown away. I'm not sure what I believe. Part of me thinks the parents are doing a real disservice to their kids and that they'll have more problems when their older.

Betty Manousos said...

hiding the gender? i really am not sure what i believe...sorry.

betty xx

Betty Manousos said...

...definitely gender shouldn't be a taboo.
i'm with animewookie.

Unknown said...

Instead of just writing a comment, I have written a post about what I think: http://lillys-lillypad.blogspot.com/2011/06/brewing-up-storm.html
:)

Kelly said...

I remember seeing this on our news recently along with the baby. Funny, most babies that age appear "genderless" to me anyway!

I think the parents could have achieved the same results without all the secrecy and media circus that accompanies their way of doing it.

Melissa (Books and Things) said...

I don't know, but I'd be curious as to how the child feels after they have grown up. Interesting discussion.

Revd. Neal Terry said...

It is very much the nature v. nurture argument. Is gender identity inherent, genetically created by the sex determinant or culturally created. These parents must be convinced of the latter and are keen to try to do something about that. I believe that they will have a very difficult time doing so... I hope there is follow up and we do get to find out how it affects the childs development.

Jenners said...

Oh dear. I fear by drawing so much attention to the issue, the parents are making things doubly difficult on poor Storm. I think kids like to know "what" they are but should be encouraged to pursue things that appeal to them ... not just what is "good" for their gender. That being said, I see my son seeming to gravitate to traditional "boy" things without much encouragement from me or his father. Then again, he loves lots of gender neutral stuff as well ... .like animals.

The Bookworm said...

I did hear about the genderless baby, from canada if I remember correctly. When hubby and I saw that on the news, we gave a collective 'Huh?'

Gina said...

Totally reminded me of the book I just finished. Good points though...and really, the names some celebs give (*ahem*...saddle) their children with today...oye! As for "genderless" Storm...first I'm hearing about it...and I genuinely pity these kids. Being a "girl" or a "boy" doesn't MAKE you who you are, it's just a part of it. Can't see how beinge "creative" in this aspect is going to help anyone....then again, maybe it's just me. *shrugs*

serendipity_viv said...

That is just daft! That poor kid will grow up confused!

purplume said...

I wonder how this will play out for the child?
I was very surprised when my less than 2 yr old daughter, picked up her brother's play shaver and used it on her legs, not on her face like her brothers did.