Tuesdays Child is full of disappointment...
This is not a great way to start off a Tuesday.
I first read the article on Saturday when it was published and the title (to be fair and honest) did bother me a little. But, being curious, I decided to check it out anyway and see what it was about. It was an extremely long article surrounding two Toronto parents who have three children. Jazz, Kio and Storm. Both Jazz and Kio are given the opportunity to choose their own clothing (And subsequently wear whatever they choose), keep their hair as long as they want, etc.
Why? These parents want to raise their children to live in a genderless society.
Flash forward to four months ago when their youngest child, Storm, was born. Only a handful of people know what his/her gender is. Why? Because they want Storm be able to choose for himself/herself what gender he/she is. Kinda seems like a groundbreaking concept that a child isn't defined by what's between their legs (or isn't).
But apparently, this is wrong. In the aforementioned article at the top, there are a lot of angry, upset, and enraged people over this. People are crying foul, saying that C.A.S. should be called to take their children away from their parents, since they're living in a social experiment. Another person went on to state that these children are going to be so screwed up when they get older.
(I understand that this is clearly only a snippet of the comments and the people who've reacted negatively to this issue).
Explain to me how they're going to be screwed up? Explain to me how this is a social experiment? My god, I had honestly thought that society had progressed far enough along that we were starting to do away with the stereotypes inflicted on each gender. I was wrong apparently. So lets just go back and say that little boys should only play with GI Joe and action figures, while little girls have to wear pink, yellow or purple and play with dollies.
I know people who are raising their children to be accepting of ANYTHING. One particular example is an acquaintance's eldest son. He's four now and is allowed to choose his own clothing, play with the toys he wants, etc. Yes, there's ridicule surrounding him, and even her parenting skills (Because it's wrong to tell your four year old son that despite the fact that barbie is pretty, you have a penis and should not play with her... There's GI Joe, go play with him instead), but what's the problem?
I go back to what a said about a month and a half ago when I was being ridiculed for my weight, lack of degree, etc. Has this done something to offend you? Do you feel personally attacked by this? Why can't we all just grow up, move on and ACCEPT PEOPLE FOR WHO THEY ARE!?
(Sidenote: Shame on The Toronto Star for putting this family through hell by continuously posting this story and referring back to it. Had it been posted once, and then left to be, I'm sure the reaction wouldn't have been nearly as vicious).
I first read the article on Saturday when it was published and the title (to be fair and honest) did bother me a little. But, being curious, I decided to check it out anyway and see what it was about. It was an extremely long article surrounding two Toronto parents who have three children. Jazz, Kio and Storm. Both Jazz and Kio are given the opportunity to choose their own clothing (And subsequently wear whatever they choose), keep their hair as long as they want, etc.
Why? These parents want to raise their children to live in a genderless society.
Flash forward to four months ago when their youngest child, Storm, was born. Only a handful of people know what his/her gender is. Why? Because they want Storm be able to choose for himself/herself what gender he/she is. Kinda seems like a groundbreaking concept that a child isn't defined by what's between their legs (or isn't).
But apparently, this is wrong. In the aforementioned article at the top, there are a lot of angry, upset, and enraged people over this. People are crying foul, saying that C.A.S. should be called to take their children away from their parents, since they're living in a social experiment. Another person went on to state that these children are going to be so screwed up when they get older.
(I understand that this is clearly only a snippet of the comments and the people who've reacted negatively to this issue).
Explain to me how they're going to be screwed up? Explain to me how this is a social experiment? My god, I had honestly thought that society had progressed far enough along that we were starting to do away with the stereotypes inflicted on each gender. I was wrong apparently. So lets just go back and say that little boys should only play with GI Joe and action figures, while little girls have to wear pink, yellow or purple and play with dollies.
I know people who are raising their children to be accepting of ANYTHING. One particular example is an acquaintance's eldest son. He's four now and is allowed to choose his own clothing, play with the toys he wants, etc. Yes, there's ridicule surrounding him, and even her parenting skills (Because it's wrong to tell your four year old son that despite the fact that barbie is pretty, you have a penis and should not play with her... There's GI Joe, go play with him instead), but what's the problem?
I go back to what a said about a month and a half ago when I was being ridiculed for my weight, lack of degree, etc. Has this done something to offend you? Do you feel personally attacked by this? Why can't we all just grow up, move on and ACCEPT PEOPLE FOR WHO THEY ARE!?
(Sidenote: Shame on The Toronto Star for putting this family through hell by continuously posting this story and referring back to it. Had it been posted once, and then left to be, I'm sure the reaction wouldn't have been nearly as vicious).