Confusing the Child's Gender?

[Gnoekeos]

It seems like that would have a really difficult to do if they hadn't made it public I think it would have worked better. Now everyone is going to be trying to figure out its gender, they're gonna have to be on their guard in every conversation. "Hows your kid doing?" "Oh he's fine.....DAMNIT!"

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Remind me, why does Storm's mother consider herself female?

Yeah...Puberty is gonna snap Storm RIGHT out of that little bubble. And probably into a strait-jacket.

 

[smithy_2045]

The kids have no chance of integrating successfully into society when they grow up.

Sure, challenge gender roles, but turning your kids into an experiment is poor form.

 

[MurderousToaster]

Oh hey, hippy parents. That's fucking ridiculous. They seem to think their child is retarded or something. What are they going to do, not explain the differences between a male and a female to it?

I feel sorry for this kid for having such idiotic parents and for having parents that would name it "Storm". Jesus Christ.

The further I read this article, the more I think that these people are terrible, terrible parents. Well done, guys. You've managed to completely ruin your children's chances of growing up and functioning properly in society.

I understand what they're trying to do, but they're taking it several kilometres too far.

 

[Fetzenfisch]

THey are just trying to hide that lil storm is a mutant

 

[Lilani]

Why is it important for them to be told they're male or female? What does that mean? What does it even entail?

It entails telling the child what gender they were born to--what gender they physically and legally considered to be.

I think they're going a bit overboard. I think the concept is good, but they're trying too hard. Like using a chainsaw to cut the tag off a shirt. Children need to know the definition of a boy and a girl, and they need to know what they presently are; if for no other reason than to be able to tell authorities who/what they are if they get into trouble.

What they should teach is tolerance to gender identity. From the stories I've read about people who decide their gender identity is different, the idea in their mind that they are the wrong gender just comes naturally. They get that feeling that they're the wrong body. The challenge isn't that at all--the challenge is dealing with it emotionally and trying to figure out who to tell and how. If the parents show the child as they grow up that they can go to them with any problem, and that their love is truly unconditional, that will be all the help the child needs to address such a thing if it arises.

Gender and gender identity are two completely different things, but these parents are treating them like they are one in the same. If the child doesn't know how to tell gender and what gender they are, that will severely hinder them in making connections about basic things. If they don't know what gender they are, how will they know which bathroom to use? If they don't know what a female is, how will they know only females can have babies? If they can't tell what gender people are, how can they describe things when telling stories, or if someone tries to hurt them and they need to describe what the person looked like?

They're setting their child up for failure. Teaching tolerance is fantastic. Doing so by making a train wreck out of the child's most important stages of social development is insane.

 

[DreadfulSorry]

Just because I was raised to be a girl doesn't mean my parents raised me to spend all my time in the kitchen. I played with trucks just as much as I played with barbies.

I find these parents' opinions to be a little insulting; it's almost like they think parents who raise their children to be a specific gender are bad parents, which would imply that my parents were bad parents. Not to brag, but I have two of the best parents in the whole world, they always taught me to be myself, no matter what that may be.

To me, what the Wittericks are doing is counter-productive. "Removing" gender from their children's environment is not going to solve the problem, because there is no way to completely isolate them from society's gender expectations. To my knowledge, gender roles are present in every society, throughout human history; whether you choose to follow them or not is up to the individual.

 

[babinro]

I love this idea actually. Society in general would give the child a very hard life if they choose to act out as the opposite gender though. Of course..the only way people might change their views is to be exposed to this sort of thing as well.

The child should obviously be aware of its gender...but that should not in any way limit what it should do for fun or wear.

 

[Senaro]

All that's going to do is confuse the poor kid, and alienate him from the people around him. Why don't the parents just make sure the kid knows he isn't restricted by his gender? Much easier and less damaging for the child.

It seems to me the parents are forcing choices on him more than any gender roles would. If the kid wants people to know he is male (which he does according to the article) then let him make that choice.

That's pretty much it right there. The child wants to be seen as a male, but he's being forced into a specific role by his parents that he doesn't want to be a part of. It seems like the mother is doing exactly what she's trying to prevent.

If she really wanted to send a message, she should do it herself, not force it upon a child.

 

[JoJo]

I completely disagree with these parents decison: genders and their differences are real, the coming to terms with being a member of one gender is a vital part of early childhood. I don't want every child to be forced to conform to gender stereotypes but that's a decision they must make themselves when they are aware of their own gender. Parents should alway buy gender-correct clothing though as young children of either gender look pretty much the same except for how they are dressed/hair styled.

Also, Storm is a terrible name and I don't know how they are going to refer to the baby as a "he" or a "she"? Are they going to call him or her "it"?

 

[Lizardon]

Why restrict it to just gender? Why not also let out children also decide what species they want to be?

This is a terrible idea that will only confuse the kids. Just because you tell them they are a girl/boy, it won't automatically make them conform to gender roles. It's their environment and up bringing which will affect that.

 

[staika]

This article makes me very sad for all those children, not only do you have stupid parents who name you stupid shit like "storm" but they also use you to make a point and in turn ruin your child hood and emotionally scar you for the rest of your life. I'm all for making a point but you shouldn't use your own kids to make that point, that's stupid parenting and their children should be taken away.

 

[Sizzle Montyjing]

Am i the only one who has a problem with 'letting your child choose it's gender'?
Because i'm pretty sure life doesn't quite work like that...
...unless i'm mis-interpreting that argument.
But anyway that women is ridiculous, it's like she's denying the child their, well whole identity as a person!

 

[CrystalShadow]

The issue I have with this, is that the child has a gender. The child has anatomy for that gender. That gender is also on their birth certificate. I can forsee a confused child in the future.
Look, I know male children that play dress up in girls clothing and play with Barbie dolls. They know they are boys though. Their parents let them do this where other parents wouldn't. What these parents in th OP are doing however, I find repugnant.

Sorry, no. You're confusing terminology. Ask feminists. Ask anyone dealing with gender politics.

Gender is NOT innate. It is the social constructs and expectations associated with the idea that you are a certain sex

I know this gets confused a lot. (mainly because people feel weird talking about a person's sex, and try and avoid that word.)

But you said the child has a gender. and, has anatomy for that gender. Which is wrong. Blatantly wrong.

Conflating sex & gender causes uncountable headaches.

The child has a sex. - This is the physical anatomy. And it cannot be changed. (Not currently. Surgery and medication can partially alter things, but it's an incomplete transformation.)

The gender however is a socially enforced role that has next to nothing to do with the sex of the child, and everything to do with expectations. Which is what the whole point of this experiment the parents are conducting is.

I think it's misguided too, but your confused usage of the terminology involved doesn't help anyone.

 

[Quiet Stranger]

If the kid picks to be a boy and ends up being a girl, there will be a lot of hormone issues. I believe he/she/it will probably end up depressed as fuck.

Also, they named the fucking kid Storm? jesus christ.

Hippies are the WORST parents.


Poor kid, probably gonna end pretty fucked up

 

[blipblop]

I think the parents are brave that actualy trying to do something active to change the gender role issue instead of just talking and whining. there heart is in the right place but the problem is not wheter you have a penis or a vagina or what you call yourself more that women always is seen as a second hand citizen sense the dawn of time. and denying this is or trying to justify that anyone is whort less just becorse of gender race or whatnot is just being a dick (no pun intended)

 

[Arafiro]

*Sigh* Fucking hippies. Congratulations, you just made your kids life soo much harder once he has to get out in the real world and deal with real people who don't sit around all day smoking weed and hugging trees.

The first time I read this I found it slightly harsh, but then I read it again and realised I completely agree.

I hate people messing up their kids like this just for their own beliefs or curiosity. This story made me sad.

 

[OmniscientOstrich]

I intially thought the child was hermaphroditic, but when I child already belongs to a specific sex it's just cruel to confuse them like this. If when they're older they don't feel they were born into the right body that's fine, but they have to reach that decision on their own.

 

[blipblop]

*Sigh* Fucking hippies. Congratulations, you just made your kids life soo much harder once he has to get out in the real world and deal with real people who don't sit around all day smoking weed and hugging trees.

The first time I read this I found it slightly harsh, but then I read it again and realised I completely agree.

I hate people messing up their kids like this just for their own beliefs or curiosity. This story made me sad.

I think everyone who have kids trying to impliment there own ideas and moral values to there spawn.
why should one way of rasing your kids be more "fucking them up" than other ways. there is no norm how you should rais a family.