I heard this on Public Radio International. While not specifically trans related, I thought the gender neutrality was a close enough topic to post on this forum.

http://www.theworld.org/2012/11/sweden-gender-neutrality/

IMHO, I don't think it's going too far (although I am not opposed to using "he" or "she" in schools). Gender identity and associating with gender roles begins at a young age, so starting gender neutral concepts in education will hopefully allow these children to be free to become who they truly are.

It will not make any difference as some of the gender-specific behaviours are hard wire on our brains.

The fact that anyone thinks this is going "too far" is laughable, imo. I think that's exactly what society needs, something to break up this whole idea that "boys do this, girls do that." Children learn that through society, and its at the root of a heck of a lot of ignorance and bigotry.

Quote from: peky on November 26, 2012, 08:32:23 PM
It will not make any difference as some of the gender-specific behaviours are hard wire on our brains.

And what exactly are these so-called "hard-wired gender-specific behaviours"?

While we're on the subject, I found one of the gender-neutral toy catalogs, and I love the image of the boy dressed as spiderman pushing a pram.



It's exactly the silly kind of stuff I used to do as a kid, because dangit, toys are toys, and fun is fun!

Quote from: Berserk on November 28, 2012, 03:00:02 PM
And what exactly are these so-called "hard-wired gender-specific behaviours"?

Well, they are for example the behaviours you chose to assert you innate gender identity. If they were not hard wired, they would have certainly have been eradicated from me.

8 years (from 4 to 12 YO) of daily and severe beatings and psychological abuse did not change my hard wired femaleness, neither did the many visits with the psychiatrist, not did the catholic exorcism...but I am making the argument personal, let me share with you the following video, enjoy...

http://www.ted.com/talks/steven_pinker_chalks_it_up_to_the_blank_slate.htm

Quote from: CybilB on February 18, 2013, 10:04:14 AM
While we're on the subject, I found one of the gender-neutral toy catalogs, and I love the image of the boy dressed as spiderman pushing a pram.



It's exactly the silly kind of stuff I used to do as a kid, because dangit, toys are toys, and fun is fun!

Thanks for posting the picture, I love it! lol

This thread is pretty old but had to comment anyway..
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I been found of the whole gender-neutral thing even when its sceptically critizied of going too far and I also think for a point it hard to understand, I for ex felt kinda wierd when I once where pronouced "hen" even when I know others who dont mind going with that i'm not just used to it.

as I see it the people who in generel are sceptical is sceptical because they say it will not allow them to express themself if there binary.
ex a girl who like to be femenine and play with doll would had to be forced to play soccer.

thats really not the intention, the intention is if a girl want to play with dolls she can do that but if she likes to play soccer she can do that as well, neither should be better or worse option to pick so you can have a girl who is very femenine and still doing gender-neutral racing.

I agree with Natkat.

Personally, I think it's awesome. Go Sweden!

The girl with the toy gun really made me smile. I identify with that much more than a girl with a doll.

Quote from: Natkat on July 31, 2013, 07:50:48 PM
as I see it the people who in generel are sceptical is sceptical because they say it will not allow them to express themself if there binary.
ex a girl who like to be femenine and play with doll would had to be forced to play soccer.

thats really not the intention, the intention is if a girl want to play with dolls she can do that but if she likes to play soccer she can do that as well, neither should be better or worse option to pick so you can have a girl who is very femenine and still doing gender-neutral racing.

To add to that, I think it's even more important to let it be okay for boys to play with dolls and dress up if that's what they want to do. It won't stop other boys from doing what they like to do. But I think the problem is mostly with boys not being able to express femininity, while girls are often able to get away with being a little more ambiguous in their interests.

Boys who play with dolls often get the belt. Girls who play with guns are often encouraged by the same father. Hypothetical scenario, of course. But not entirely fictional.

Something else to point out about Society when it comes to gender. I once saw a little girl on the news who got on the news for ranting in a nice way about how the girl's Isle and toys were all a certain color theme which is, Pink. The colors for the toys themselves don't have a wide selection either. She ranted about how unfair it was that the Boy's isle and toys got such a WIDE selection of cool colors while the girls did not. Honestly, I agree with her. It's not right nor is it fair. Seeing that Ad reminded me of that. I'll also say there is NOTHING wrong with a boy liking the color Pink and with even WEARING the color Pink. Same with Yellow too and any other "gender" specific color which Society deemed only for a specific gender.

Quote from: Jillian on August 04, 2013, 07:29:58 PM
To add to that, I think it's even more important to let it be okay for boys to play with dolls and dress up if that's what they want to do. It won't stop other boys from doing what they like to do. But I think the problem is mostly with boys not being able to express femininity, while girls are often able to get away with being a little more ambiguous in their interests.

Boys who play with dolls often get the belt. Girls who play with guns are often encouraged by the same father. Hypothetical scenario, of course. But not entirely fictional.

yeah girls is in many ways more able to express themself untill a limit, without being seen unusual I felt that after transition that people comment more on me being abit girly than they did before of me being boyish.
whatever girl or boy it was just an exemple it sure goes for both ways. maybe I took girl because my (ex something-something) is swedish and got a little girl which is is raised pretty gender neutral and while we where dating I got to think about those kind of things.

Quote from: Shana-chan on August 05, 2013, 10:45:45 PM
Same with Yellow too and any other "gender" specific color which Society deemed only for a specific gender.

I never head yellow was a gender specific color only pink or blue, maybe also the contrast between light or dark colour, like light green is more girly while dark green is more boyish.