Care2:

One of the first questions people ask when a woman is pregnant is often, “Is it a boy or a girl?”

While the answer to this question can be quite simple the implications are far greater. As soon as the child's sex is revealed the gender games begin – Pink vs. blue. Dolls vs. trucks. Cute vs. strong.

Depending on the child's gender, his or her experiences with the rest of the world – even before birth – are shaped by the answer to this not so simple question as it turns out.

In Sweden, a 24-year-old couple has chosen to circumvent the gender games by keeping their child's sex a secret. In doing so they hope to help their two-and-a-half-year-old child, Pop (not his or her real name), avoid the preconceived notions of what it means to be male or female.

“We want Pop to grow up more freely and avoid being forced into a specific gender mould from the outset,” Pop’s mother said. “It's cruel to bring a child into the world with a blue or pink stamp on their forehead.”

With the exception of Pop's parents and those who have changed his or her diaper, nobody knows Pop's gender. Pop's parents have been able to keep Pop's sex a secret by regularly changing Pop's hairstyle and letting Pop decide what to wear everyday from a wardrobe that includes both pants and dresses. If asked what Pop's gender is, the parents simply say that they do not disclose that information.

For those of us who believe that gender is a social construction this is a very interesting experiment.

By growing up “genderless” will Pop develop as more of an individual? Will the absence of gender stereotypes allow Pop to develop his or her interests more freely? Will this experiment ultimately prove to be an empowering experience for Pop?

His parents certainly think so.

"I believe that the self-confidence and personality that Pop has shaped will remain for a lifetime," said Pop's mother who has said they will only reveal Pop's gender when Pop is ready.

Others may be critical of Pop's parent's choices.

Will Pop be alienated and teased by his peers for his parent's choices? Will Pop feel unconnected to his identity by growing up “genderless”? Will the absence of not knowing his or her gender ultimately prove to be a damaging experience?

We can't be sure, which is what makes me uneasy of such a social experiment on a child, but I can't help but be intrigued. For better or worse our gender plays such a critical part in shaping our experiences with the world. Maybe Pop's parent's have the right idea. Maybe not. Only time will tell.

For now though with a second child on the way, Pop's parents will continue to play the gender games with a “genderless” card.

http://www.care2.com/causes/womens-rights/blog/pop-goes-gender-what-are-the-effects-of-growing-up-genderless/

This social experiment will fail once the child hits puberty. It will probably even fail once the child goes to school. Cultural Marxism at its worse.