It's a man world, but it wouldn't be nothing...

[ladyoflisquill]

I find this article, and idea, really interesting.

Canadian Parents Raise Gender-Neutral Baby by Not Revealing Its Sex
Whatever you think about the parents it cannot be denied that we are raised in a hugely gender influenced society. In fact I'd say other peoples reactions to the Toronto couple and their kids is more extreme than how the kids themselves feel. 

I've always be hugely interested in gender representation and it's effect on ourselves and society. The fact is that from the moment we are born, or even before we are born, we are categorized by what is between our legs and often our lives are dictated by this. Being the only girl in a family of boys - and an extended family of predominately boys as well, of my 14 immediate cousins only 2 are female - I was raised in a hugely male environment. I had boys hand-me-downs of clothes and toys and I was happy with this. I never wanted to be a boy but I was definitely marked out by my brothers as different even though we were raised the same way. I was "the girl" and that did bother me. I didn't feel any different to them so why should they treat me differently. 

 

I'm just sound-boarding here but it's interesting... 

ETA: elipie pointed me towards this brilliant essay. Well worth a read. X: A Fabulous Child's Story.

Comments

[elipie.livejournal.com]

Have you ever read the Story of Baby X? We read it in my sociology class back in high school and I've found the idea fascinating ever since: http://www.gendercentre.org.au/22article4.htm

[ladyoflisquill.livejournal.com]

I hadn't. Thanks for the tip.

[ladyoflisquill.livejournal.com]

Oh that was wonderful. Made me somewhat teary.