Lil Bit Special Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 http://www.salon.com/mwt/broadsheet/2009/06/30/sweden/ A Swedish couple believe so strongly that gender is a social construction that they do not reveal whether their 2.5-year-old is a boy or a girl. Only those who have changed the toddler's diapers know if "Pop," which is not the child's real name, is male or female. "We want Pop to grow up more freely and avoid being forced into a specific gender mold from the outset," the tot's 24-year-old mother told the newspaper Svenska Dagbladet. "It's cruel to bring a child into the world with a blue or pink stamp on their forehead." Pop's wardrobe includes both pants and dresses, and the child usually gets to decide what to wear. "Although Pop knows that there are physical differences between a boy and a girl, Pop's parents never use personal pronouns when referring to the child -- they just say Pop," according to the English-language Swedish site the Local. Not surprisingly, the pundits are split on the effect this flouting of convention will have on Pop. "Child-rearing should not be about providing an opportunity to prove an ideological point, but about responding to each child's needs as an individual," Susan Pinker, a psychologist who is the author of a book about sex differences in the workplace, told the Local. "I don't think that trying to keep a child's sex a secret will fool anyone, nor do I think it's wise or ethical. As with any family secret, when we try to keep an elemental truth from children, it usually blows up in the parents' face, via psychosomatic illness or rebellious behavior." Yet, Kristina Henkel, Swedish gender equality consultant, says Pop's parents' experiment could help the child develop as an individual without being boxed in by gender-role stereotyping from birth. "If the child is dressed up as a girl or boy, it affects them because people see and treat them in a more gender-typical way," Henkel explains. "Girls are told they are cute in their dresses, and boys are told they are cool with their car toys. But if you give them no gender they will be seen more as a human or not a stereotype as a boy or girl." Pop's parents say that they will reveal the child's gender when Pop thinks it is time to do so. In any case, he or she will soon have more company. The family is expecting another child, and with the next bundle of joy, the parents plan to continue playing the "what's it to you?" gender card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green DNA Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Some people need to be sterlized in order to keep the gene pool relatively healthy. Unfortunately in this case it is too late. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Gun Of Bavaria Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 The ongoing breakdown of society is frightening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Crusher Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Some people need to be sterlized in order to keep the gene pool relatively healthy. Unfortunately in this case it is too late. I don't think so. Eventually one of those two kids have a psychotic episode due to this incredibly strange practice and whack both parents as they sleep dreaming of one pink and one blue booty on either feet of the same child. Karma says. "Pay me now or pay me later." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KSJets Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 This will end when the child has to change for gym class. Ok, hopefully it has to happen before that, but I would think it's a requirement that the school the child will attend will HAVE to know what sex the child is. They can't have a boy dressing with the girls, or a girl dressing with the boys. Not to mention, if this kid is a boy and he chooses to wear a dress to school, I can pretty much guarantee he is going to be pummeled daily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 I think it's completely idiotic to not know the gender of your baby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Bit Special Posted July 1, 2009 Author Share Posted July 1, 2009 Not to mention, if this kid is a boy and he chooses to wear a dress to school, I can pretty much guarantee he is going to be pummeled daily. the kid can always say its a muumuu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Bit Special Posted July 1, 2009 Author Share Posted July 1, 2009 I think it's completely idiotic to not know the gender of your baby. they know it, they just dont want to tell anyone else. They want their little snowflake to find its own identity instead of one forced upon it by societies view of roles for males and females. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 they know it, they just dont want to tell anyone else. They want their little snowflake to find its own identity instead of one forced upon it by societies view of roles for males and females. That's even more stupid. I would want others to get me the right presents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BURGERMIKE Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Does "pop" pee standing up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green DNA Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 It's one thing for the mentalcase parents to try and force their idiotic ideas upon the child, but they need to realize that they will be subjecting their little darling to mega abuse once they go to school. The kids will be like piranhas in a feeding frenzy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norway'sWaddlingMarmaloof Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 I think it's completely idiotic to not know the gender of your baby. Reading is fundamental. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Bit Special Posted July 1, 2009 Author Share Posted July 1, 2009 It's one thing for the mentalcase parents to try and force their idiotic ideas upon the child, but they need to realize that they will be subjecting their little darling to mega abuse once they go to school. The kids will be like piranhas in a feeding frenzy. dont worry. the parents will be right there screaming and yelling to the school how they didnt protect their little snowflake from ridicule and taunting and they need to have a separate bathroom for children with gender identity issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Bit Special Posted July 1, 2009 Author Share Posted July 1, 2009 That's even more stupid. I would want others to get me the right presents. but thats their biggest problem! How dare grandma buy pop a dress! They dont want "pop" to be forced to wear dresses just because he's a girl. they feel If pop is a boy and wants to wear a dress, yay for him! and screw society who wants boys to get dirty and girls to bake brownies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doggin94it Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Meh - they're doing what they think is best for their kid. I think they're idiots (plain and simple, gender is not a purely social construct), but I can't knock them for being idiots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norway'sWaddlingMarmaloof Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Meh - they're doing what they think is best for their kid. I think they're idiots (plain and simple, gender is not a purely social construct), but I can't knock them for being idiots. Doggin, if you can't knock idiots, who the hell can you knock? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerryK Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 I bet it's a girl. They say they want the child to not be "stereotyped" and denied things... what western country does this to young white males? And what good would it be to give a boy dresses? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green DNA Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 It's a money making ploy. They will do a Pay per View or Geraldo special* , building the suspense and then whipping down the shorts at the end of the show to see what's going' on down there. * In 18 years or applicable age of consent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KSJets Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 It'll probably just replace "Jon & Kate plus 8" or whatever the **** that show is called. I can see them trying to make this a reality show. That's so sad, but I can still see the parents doing this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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