He, she or it? Family keeps baby's gender a secret

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by BluPhire

I can and I will use God to hope that children are born to strong parents, because many children are not. If it were so, wouldn't have to worry about misguided children.

Uhhhhh...this isn't really an issue of "strong parenting." The average parent thinks "strong parenting" means putting boys in blue and girls in pink; and discouraging any hint of defying gender. The average parent thinks "strong parenting" means teaching heterosexuality and discouraging homosexuality.

Most of these "strong parents" also conveniently use God to support why this is how things are supposed to be. This evening, a "strong parent" who I love with all of my heart talked to me about transgenderism and used the Bible's "...and God created Adam and Eve" to seal the deal.

God + strong parenting = ?????????

Originally Posted by BluPhire

Didn't say solely. Doesn't mean outside forces don't help in the molding, but if parents are not involved at all in positive molding and knowledge of self, that is a sad thing.

Yeah and the family in this article consider themselves doing just that and probably consider themselves "strong parents." They may also consider themselves to be "Godly."

Originally Posted by BluPhire

Nice that the parents have made this choice, I don't agree with their method because it takes the child's ability to choose which stand he or she wishes to take in regards to how he or she wishes to present themselves in this world. Now if the child was older and started showing signs of gender ambiguity and they chose to make support and see where it goes, more power. At the beginning when the only thing the baby knows right now is eat and sleep? Naw don't agree.

You see this the exact opposite of how I see it. The way the average parent does it removes choice from the child. Children do not choose to be given pink baby stuff upon delivery and go home to a "girly nursery." People who have been gender socialized choose this for children. We don't know what children would choose if it is completely up to them from start to finish.

And since children have no real ability to choose anything, I see nothing wrong (as long as it is done sanely) with these parents choosing to go this route for their children just as other parents choose to go the gendered route for their children.