Baby gender neutrality and the reaffirmation of the patriarchal gender binary

In reading this article I am far more interested in people’s reaction to the parents decision, than the decision itself. A) The parents never said that they wouldn’t teach a distinction in terms of genitalia; they are just not placing any value on it as a basis for gender identity. B) There are other socializing factors that will attempt to force the child into the gendered binary structure ( friends, relatives, schools, and most certainly the media); the child is not living in a social vacuum.

I’ve read the comments that have been posted on many different sites, they are mostly negative, admonishing the parents for being selfish and self righteous and that they need to “think of their child.” I find this to be gender stigmatization veiled as compassion for the child.  They (the commentors) validate the binary system by saying (among other things) that anything other than the boy girl dichotomy will be labeled “weird.”  When, in order to reach gender equality and neutrality, it starts by pushing the boundaries

What we are witnessing, is one family’s push against the binary system, and the system’s resistance to change.  This once again proves that gender matters a great deal in our society. Otherwise you wouldn’t get strangers trying to define your child, and berating you for not “following the rules”; which are the socially constructedanyway into a binary system of gender classification that validates men and masculinity and constructs the patriarchy.

P.S.  I also like the subtle innuendo the article gives that the child might be a boy…because he has brothers and we all know how consistent and valid a measurement that can be… My name is Brian, I have two older sisters :)

Disclaimer: This post was written by a Feministing Community user and does not necessarily reflect the views of any Feministing columnist, editor, or executive director.

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