More parents in the United States are now bringing up their children outside traditional gender norms. By raising kids without strict gender roles, both boys and girls can play with any toys and choose clothing from what’s available to either gender. People often wonder if this is a beneficial parenting choice.
Children who are allowed to choose their own traditions and identities tend to feel more secure and confident in their own lives. They can develop a sense of self based on their own feelings rather than being confined to societal expectations. Parents who raise their children this way believe it helps break the cycle of harmful gender stereotypes.
This kind of parenting first gained attention in 2011 with a couple outside of Toronto, Canada. They allowed their child, Storm, to grow up without imposing a specific gender. For those seeking more information, there is a blog where parents share their experiences raising gender-neutral children. This blog features stories and advice about living without strict gender labels.
In our society, children are quickly categorized by gender, and challenges can arise in maintaining a gender-neutral upbringing unless the child is in a community that supports such a lifestyle. Some parents find it difficult as it can make their children targets for bullying or exclusion from social events and activities.
One couple raising twins struggled with the idea of a traditional gender reveal when they discovered they were expecting. Typically, the fetus’s gender is identifiable after 20 weeks, and emotional attachment to one’s gender starts to form. However, raising children in a gender-neutral environment allows them to develop their own personalities and discover their identity.
The debate continues: should children be raised as ‘he’ or ‘she’ or left to decide? For many, gender reveals help parents prepare for their child’s arrival. Still, some argue that surrounding children with gender-specific colors and toys can limit their growth and self-identification.
Research suggests that a child’s understanding of gender is influenced by their environment, making the impact of gender-neutral parenting significant.
