Pop, the Gender-Free Child

I'm so tired of these stereotypes that society has put on the words "male" and "female." I asked my boyfriend if he'd let his son play with a doll and he said, "If that's what he likes, yes." But when I asked him if he would let his son wear a dress, he instantly said no. Who says men can't wear dresses? There's nothing wrong with it. I'm so angered that people assume this when there's just no reason for it to be that way. I think Pop will get to experience anything they want because they won't have any restrictions whatsoever. Pop will show the world that some things we do aren't needed, and people will finally get through their thick skulls that there are almost no differences between males and females, biologically. We're both human. We both have the same brain functions and the same feelings. The huge separation of male and female is fabricated by society, and it's disgusting. I'm glad that someone did this.

Paul, you are absolutely right. It seems like some people can't distinguish the difference between SEX and GENDER. Yes, society's approach to gender roles is restrictive. Yes, we should allow kids to choose for themselves whether they want to play with dolls or toy soldiers. But SEX is a biological fact. Except in rare cases, you either have a penis or a vagina. We don't let our kids decide whether they want to be "black" or "white". The biological fact of their skin color decides that for them. It seems to me that the approach these parents have to gender is as dangerous a "societal construct" as the one they are fighting against.

I think too many people are jumping the gun here in feeling the child will be doomed for a life of always feeling like an outsider. Pop is only 2 years old right now; he or she is too young to understand that there is a difference in genders. Basically all that his or her parents are doing right now is playing dress up. There is a very good chance that Pop will still end up with the traditional gender characteristics. How I am taking this story is Pop's parents are not pressuring the child to one gender or the other, they are leaving that for Pop to decide. Pop will eventually discover what sex he or she is, and that is when we will see if the parent's actions had any effect on him or her.

I bet most of the readers who think this is a bad idea are MALE and most who think this is an idea worth exploring are FEMALE......now let's consider why that might be the case....yup it just might be because the MALE gender is favored but the female gender is still not treated with equal respect, even after 40 years of struggle.

...It's going to be interesting to see what happens when 'Pop' reaches the elementary age...doubly so when zie reaches the equivelent of 'high school.' My regards to the family and their goals.

While I support alleviating children from the pressures of gender stereotypes, these parents are taking this concept to an extreme. Like or not, all human cultures organize people into categories based upon their biological SEX. The main problems that come from gender stereotyping are in enforced behaviors associated with the labels of "male" or "female" -- not with the categorizations themselves. In fact, the labels "male" and "female" are logical ways of classifying people based upon obvious biological differences. Growing up, this child will suffer greatly because he or she will feel like a total outsider to the entire way we organize society, and will suffer much at the hands of his or her confused peers whom know not what to make of him/her. This is to say nothing of the various complications that will certainly arise when this child goes through puberty. This child's parents are setting him or her up for a life of confusion and alienation.

This is a very interesting idea, I just wonder how long they can prevent society from pushing the traditional gender roles onto the child. Though they keep the child's gender a secret, it is only a matter of time until the child finds out that he is a male or female, by what sex he is. In the book Gendered Lives Dr. Wood describes the Cognitive Development Theory in explaining gender development. The theory states that usually at age 3 children will realize that being a boy or girl is not temporary, and will seek out role models to guide them in becoming competent at masculinity and femininity. The parents may attempt to hide the child from the traditional gender roles, but society forces may prove too strong, and he or she will eventually find a role model they identify with.

this is so dumb wow just because your stupid parents tried to force gender stereotypes on you doesnt make this a logical way to raise a child if your child does not want exhibits gender noncomformity, let he/she act in a manner that makes him/her happy if i have a boy that acts like a girl and loves barbies and dresses, i'll let him play with barbies and dresses, but i wont not let him know hes a boy and other stupid things like that. ill give him toy trucks cuz my assumption is he will like em and if i'm wrong, ill fix it then. why confuse the child off the bat?

Feminazi? Marlo Thomas? Ha, Phillip, you just aged yourself, you old fool! I'm a feminine woman who is happily female, and as an adult, am free to dress any way I wish. Wearing masculine clothing doesn't make me any less feminine, nor does stereotypically feminine clothing make me feel more of a woman. It comes from WITHIN. I was raised with girly stereotypes, in a very oppressive, fundamentalist household. I was a tomboy, because I liked climbing trees and playing sports. What I resented was being treated differently than my brother in a way that was truly unfair. He was allowed privileges I was not, and favored because of his sex. I think THAT is the true oppression, not whether you're born one way or another. People have a right to be whomever they wish. And as far as the Swedish are concerned, I think they're marvelously open-minded. The child will choose what they will be.

I feel so sorry for this child, who has to fodder for the psychotic whims of the legbit and feminazi agenda. I blame this all on Marlo Thomas. She was the true arab terrorist.