I found the article interesting and I agree with the parents to some degree. But I think they have crossed the line from making their children comfortable with who they are to making them uncomfortable with who they want to be.
Witterick and Stocker have two older boys who know they are boys but are allowed to follow the beat of their own drum. The youngest child, named Storm, has a gender that is only known by a few...otherwise he/she is completely gender neutral. The parents do not want the child to be defined by their gender.
As a parent to a boy who likes to dress up with his sister's dress up clothes, wear my shoes all around the house, and get his toe nails painted, I agree that a child should not be judged by what they like to do or play with. Boys can appreciate pretty things and girls can rough it up and play sports, climb trees, and wrestle with the best of the boys.
The parents experiment seems to already be going awry because while their oldest boy chooses to wear pink, grow his hair long and wear it in braids he also noted in the article that he doesn't like to be asked his gender and doesn't like the kids to make fun of him. He seems to be confused on how he wants to be viewed. What will it be like in a few years as he gets older?
Because while these parents want to agree or not, males and females were created differently for a purpose. Men are just naturally physically stronger than females. Females are typically more nurturing. Men are more silent while women like to chatter. The list could go on and on. Men and women are not equal but are great in their own respect. A man can have a maternal instinct or a woman can be a body builder but they still view themselves as a man or woman. By choosing not to proclaim the gender of their third child they are doing exactly what they are trying to avoid: making the gender the all important aspect. By hiding the child's gender they are not proclaiming to their boys that they should be who they want to be...they are instead pointing out that parts of yourself should be hidden in order to be accepted by the world. But they did find a way to get a whole lot of attention!
How can one be gender neutral? That is like saying that I have neutral eyes. If you have blue eyes, just because you hide them behind green contacts, you still have blue eyes. If you are born a male, then you are a male no matter how you hide it or cover it up.
ReplyDeleteMen and women were not created equal. They were given different strengths and weaknesses to compliment each other. The only things we are created equal in is our human dignity and souls. We live in society that wants it their way all the time. Sorry folks, you do not get to decide what gender you are.
It becomes clearer and clearer to me that we live in a pagan society. In a Judeo-Christian society, this would not be an issue. It seems a great deal of people want to make up their own rules. I believe a great many people are at a crossroads. They are going to have to choose God and his rules or choose thier own made-up gods and do what they please. God have mercy on us all.
I was just thinking as I read your post that it doesn't really matter what we may say we are, male, female, non[gender specific our bodies produce hormones and they play a huge part in what we are without any help or decision from us.
ReplyDeleteI do believe however that God has designed men and women to be different and that He knows best.
I think they should be teaching their children to embrace their individuality, which includes their gender :)
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