It's a ???: Parents Decide To Keep Their Child's Gender a Secret

By drodriguez Oct 17, 2011

No matter how far it seems we’ve come as a culture in erasing gender stereotypes, many little girls still dress in head-to-toe pink while baby boys often wear every shade of blue. One Toronto couple decided early on that their third child would not be defined by any one color...or gender.

Kathy Witterick and David Stocker, are raising their baby, named Storm Stocker, “genderless” for the time being (with only the child’s two older brothers and one close family friend knowing whether the baby is a he or she). A recent Parent Central report discusses the couple’s less than ordinary decision to keep their new baby’s gender a secret.

Mom and dad sent out this announcement to friends and family when their little one was born; “We decided not to share Storm's sex for now -- a tribute to freedom and choice in place of limitation, a standup to what the world could become in Storm's lifetime.”

The couple has said that they are hopeful they have given Storm some time to decide for him or herself which gender feels right before declaring it to the public. Witterick explains, “We thought that if we delayed sharing that information, in this case hopefully, we might knock off a couple million of those messages by the time that Storm decides Storm would like to share.”

Though Witterick and Stocker told family and friends about the gender of their first two sons at birth, they have taken measures to keep them free of gender stereotypes as well. Both children are allowed to choose clothing from the boys or girls section of the store. Oldest son, Jazz, often wears pink dresses and paints his nails.

Jazz is now of school age, but chose to stay home last year. Witterick explains how the process of visiting schools was difficult because of the way her son has chosen to dress. She says, “When we would go and visit programs, people — children and adults — would immediately react with Jazz over his gender.”

What do you think of this couple’s decision to keep their baby’s gender a secret?

Do you feel what they are doing will help their child avoid messages of gender stereotypes?

Make a Comment

Comments

by Jensimp_ly | Coaldale, CO

Oct 17, 2011

I understand why they are doing it but I think it's a little extreme. I personally try to not push gender stereotypes on my children but would never go as far as hiding what they are. I let my kids play with whatever toy catches their fancy. My son has his own baby dolls and his own Barbies and in turn my daughter has her own cars and G.I. Joes. When something comes up where it is said that it is only for girls or only for boys we talk about how that is wrong and that any one can enjoy them. I am hoping that it will result in them being better parents and better spouses.