I live in a weird bubble. I try to be aware of that, and I realize I can't have a passing familiarity with every social activity in existence, but sometimes you really get blindsided.
Over the weekend, there was a shooting at a "gender reveal" party. A woman was killed and several others were injured including children. It's a terrible crime and I hope the perpetrators are caught and brought to justice. It's the side of cognitive dissonance I want to discuss here though.
When I read "gender reveal" party, I didn't know what it was, but I thought it might be a celebration or coming out party for people who are transitioning. So my first impression was that this was some sort of trans hate crime.
No, turns out "gender reveal" parties are where you reveal the gender of your to-be-born fetus. This happens prior to the baby shower and sometimes the couple is announcing this fact to their friends and sometimes they hand the verdict unseen to a trusted friend who surprises them with the gender at the party.
And I find that concept really weird. Like, there's a whole industry around this thing with colored smoke bombs ("it's like you're electing a pope!) and all kinds of stuff. I get that it's a useful piece of information to know. and friends and family would be curious. and maybe gussy up the social media post a bit if you don't want to repeat the information a million times to different people. but a whole party just seems really weird to me. It seems like you're really doubling down on gender norms and the kid barely has the equipment yet.
I mean, you want to have a party cause you know the gender, ok, fine, it doesn't make you a bad parent. It just really surprised me as being a thing.
Yeah, it's a thing. It is foreign to me as well but I know it exists.
ReplyDeleteWow ... I would have assumed exactly as you did. Not having kids likely contributes to the lack of awareness.
ReplyDeleteTotally a thing. And choosing not to find out the sex? (Which, by the way, is NOT the same as the gender, which is a social construct - that's a pet peeve of mine...) You wouldn't believe how upset some people get when parents-to-be make that decision. (Ask me how I know.)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad this wasn't in my sphere when I was having kids. I wouldn't have done it anyway. I can think of way better themes for a party.
ReplyDelete(We didn't find out the sex for the first kid, but did for the second one.)
Leah Bloom My Sister and Brother iL ran into that too. I was a bit disgusted by the amount of crap they got over it.
ReplyDeletemarieclaire.com - Dear Parents-to-Be: Stop Celebrating Your Baby's Gender
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