Abstract

The recent past has seen new and expectant parents desiring to bring up their kids in a gender-neutral way which replaces the typical boy and girl terminologies. The new approach of bringing up kids aims to represent all forms of gender identities, while at the same time help parents overcome challenges that are experienced while raising their kids. This research focuses on how raising children without gender in Sweden compares to raising children with gender in my own country, while revealing of this is right or wrong for a kid. Gender neutral parenting is also outlined for both countries in the research paper; the effects of these parenting approaches on the kids are also discussed and compared more deeply. How advantageous or disadvantageous how this is discussed in the paper with an analysis of gender-neutral parenting effects on the two cultural setting. More profoundly, the paper outlines how these gender-neutral approaches affect the growing up of kids in the present times.

Introduction

Gender neutral parenting is the foundation of the statement of “raised without gender” which loosely translates to parents raising their kids without forcing any preconceived gender norms upon them while allowing them to choose which one suits them well for the rest of their lives. Raised without gender entails not enclosing a child into conventional and traditional roles as gender dictates and allowing them to indulge in life as a kid in the most open way (Odrowąż-Coates, 2015). Growing up in the United States, I have experienced life only as a boy because this is how I was raised. In some other countries like Sweden, gender-neutral parenting is on the rise, and this is daily increasing the number of gender-neutral children.

Gender neutral parenting is based on the ideologies of not allowing policies, institutions, and social structures to dictate the gender that a kid is going to be inclined to while growing up. The notion that there are social roles that are suited for one gender and not the other one is one aspect that gender-neutral parenting aims to bring. In as much as this is a new concept, it is important to understand what implications it could have on the society or the children especially when they grow up and recognize that they grew up in a neutral way different from their genetic makeup (Mrunal, 2015).

Based on the research, many aspects need to be understood as far as raising children without gender. The questions on whether this is right or wrong is an ethical issue, and only morality can be used to answer it. The desire to empower both genders and promote equality is one aspect that has in a significant way contributed to the issue of neutral parenting. Whether the world needs more of gender-neutral persons and less of the vice versa is a discussion that can only be determined by weighing the pros and cons, the justifications presented and the existing framework for parenting while understanding what needs exist in the society.

Is It Healthy for Your Child?

The question of whether raising children in a gender-neutral way is both a dilemma and an issue that can only be understood from an individual perspective. In  Sweden, this is seen as a way to help a child grow up in a freeway without conforming to any of the artificially created biases in the society that revolve around gender. The opposite is the case in my culture, as we believe that a child should grow up in the natural setting by which there are in without affecting how they think about themselves. In case the needs of gender-neutral parenting are in bringing gender equality then the American culture tends to lean in another way of achieving that (Lundqvist, 2018). Although gender norms can make children force themselves to become something they are not, it is important to help them understand that the best solution is to help them embrace how they are. The truth of the matter is raising children without gender might make it easy for them because they can integrate well, be treated equally and enjoy life in a borderless way, it is important to acknowledge that these kids might feel lost and confused about their own identity. The overall feeling in my culture is that children should be let to grow in a way that doesn’t make them lose identity and sense of belonging (Shutts et al., 2017).

Gender Neutrality Policing

Sweden is steps ahead in the debate on gender-neutral parenting and raising kids without gender. The Swedish government has openly supported initiatives that promote gender neutrality learning and parenting (Shutts et al., 2017).  The government believes that this could help deal with the issues of inequality. The same is happening in the United States, but the levels of acceptance are low as compared to Sweden. Some regions in the United States have been seen to embrace the move to create a more open, free and equal society where individuals can express themselves. However, this is an issue that will require so much time to be decided.

Pros and Cons of Gender Neutral Parenting

The advantages of raising children within gender are seen to affect a country in a significant way and therefore what could be seen as an advantage on a country might be seen as a disadvantage on the other country.  Sweden has all reasons to adopt policies to support gender-neutral initiatives because it is working for their culture (Lundqvist, 2018).  The United States, on the other hand, might take some time before they embrace such a move. In a broader context, gender-neutral children are seen to be more creative because they usually have freedom of expression and choice. Compared to the two, children who are raised without gender in Sweden are different from those in the United States. Sweden could choose to have this as it enhances the insights and interests of their kids.

Raising children without gender allows them to get familiar with the interests of the opposite gender and thus to achieve equality becomes easy. It is a way to help children become aware of their identity and their self-esteem and thus are way better as compared to the rest (Shutts et al, 2017). The United States would, however, help its children achieve this differently. Allowing kids to grow up with no gender tags enables them to make decisions in life without the pressure that would affect most kids. The United States by not adopting this culture of raising without gender would not benefit from the benefits mentioned above but gain the following. The cultural setting in the United States would rather raise their children with the concept of gender and help them maintain their identity instead of going through Sweden way. It is also challenging to avoid all gender-specific words, and therefore kids will learn to question when growing up. The current society in America will either directly or indirectly push children to reveal their identity; this will put so much pressure on the children in the future. The effects of this might be devastating the children.

Despite how individuals choose to grow up, they do not move out of their respective genders and because if this, the American culture would rather discourage raising children without gender than adopting it. It is by all ways wrong to push a kid to go to the opposite side. If boys like blue and sports, it is wrong to push them to like pink and dolls. Despite the reasons presented, it is wrong to do this in the American context.

Effects of Gender Neutral Parenting on Children

Gender neutral parenting affects the social life of children because they at one point interact with “normal” children while growing up and this hurts their social lives. , however, reveal that gender-neutral parenting has fewer effects on sexual behaviors like homosexuality. However, it is important to acknowledge that more than 70 % of gender non-conforming children, later on, become heterosexuals in their adult lives (Lundqvist, 2018).

Criticism

Raising children without gender is seen as a way to bring a socio imbalance to the society because in a natural setting it affects the behaviors of both genders. The idea should be in encouraging both genders to pick behaviors and attitudes that are superior and not ditch their sexuality as it in a significant way affects how they behave. The American system has in the recent past experienced instances of gender-neutral parents, but the acceptance and adoption of this are still at low levels.

Conclusion

Raising children without gender is a new concept that is taking root in countries like Sweden. The trend might soon be adopted across Europe and America. The discussion on this should be in weighing its effects on parenting, the overall society, and the kids as well. In the American culture by which I grew up, this is not acceptable and right because children can either grow up as male or female and not both genders. Extensive research should be done to scientifically ascertain how this would affect the landscape of the families, the social space and the individuals as well. Despite the global for individuals to embrace diversity, openness, and fluidity, it is important to understand that not all that is permissible is considered right, ethical and morally acceptable.

References

Lundqvist, Å. (2015). Parenting support in Sweden: new policies in old settings. Social Policy   and Society, 14(4), 657-668.

Mrunal. (2018, December 06). Gender Neutral Parenting: Effects, Pros & Cons. Retrieved from            https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/gender-neutral-parenting-is-this-a-right- approach/?amp

Odrowąż-Coates, A. (2015). Is gender neutrality a post-human phenomenon? The concept of       ‘gender neutral’in Swedish education.

Shutts, K., Kenward, B., Falk, H., Ivegran, A., & Fawcett, C. (2017). Early preschool environments and gender: Effects of gender pedagogy in Sweden. Journal of            experimental child psychology, 162, 1-17.