These Parents Let Their Kids Determine Their Own Gender Identity.

[Jessica_Rose]

These Parents Let Their Kids Determine Their Own Gender Identity. Here's How It Works.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/parenting/these-parents-let-their-kids-determine-their-own-gender-identity-here-s-how-it-works/ar-AA1cRsUO?cvid=5c4240420b29466fb4f93751ad8c1851&ei=3

Story by Marie Holmes (July 2023)

"Boy or girl?"

A growing number of parents, many of them — though not all — queer or transgender, are choosing to leave the answer up to their child. This means waiting until the child is old enough to declare their own gender identity, and often (but not always) using they/them pronouns until the child voices their own preference.

The concept of gender self-determination isn't complicated, but navigating a gender-obsessed society rife with stereotypes isn't easy. Still, parents who have chosen this path believe it's worth weathering some discomfort to give their child access to the full spectrum of gender experience.

Free from the baggage of others' expectations, kids can pursue their own gender identity and a wide range of possible interests. Gender-creative parenting gives trans kids space to come out, and can allow a boy to pursue ballet or cry when he is sad, and a girl to excel in math, science or sports.

This practice, sometimes known as "gender-creative parenting," isn't about getting rid of pink and blue, or restricting kids' options to shades of beige and gray that our culture hasn't coded male or female. It's about giving kids access to every color in the rainbow.