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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Worried about conflict/criticism if we have a son

29 replies

SecondhandTable · 27/09/2021 15:25

This isn't my usual username, I'm using one I use less often for this. Also couldn't get my head around which feminism subthread to put it in since the ridiculous decision to try and arbitrarily split parts of feminism up...

Hoping for some reassurance or advice, please be gentle! I'm heavily pregnant (term) and awaiting my second child's arrival. I have one DD who is 3. I've never been bothered about the sex of our kids, neither is DH. We didn't find out until birth with DD and doing the same this time. We have had occasional eye rolls and occasional comments from family & family friends about some choices we've made e.g. buying clothes from the 'boys' section, keeping her hair in a short bob and stupid things like that. Not been a big issue though as she still wears a lot of 'girls' clothing, and nobody is bothered about a girl in jeans or playing with Lego or whatever really are they? However I'm increasingly thinking that we are likely to receive a lot more criticism and conflict if we do basically the same thing but with a boy if you see what I mean - there are definitely people around us who will have a lot to say about a little boy wearing pink or sequins or bows, who may play with dolls or whatever, even though I will essentially be doing exactly the same as I did with DD. Has anyone been through this and how did you deal with it? Did people shut up about it quickly? I'm so worried about it that I'm starting to really hope we have another daughter.

OP posts:
SuperLoudPoppingAction · 27/09/2021 15:41

Things like bows seemed a bit fussy for any of my dc whether male or female.
Sequins seem quite unisex now though - the flippy ones where you can change the picture anyway.

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 27/09/2021 15:40

Boys clothes usually have thicker cotton and more coverage which meant that my sons often wore clothes from that section.
However, I did like to be able to spot them from a distance so sometimes I bought bright pink clothes if that was what I came across. They wore brands like oilily so maybe huge rabbit faces on fuschia.
Nobody commented.

They sometimes wore their sister's clothes but I had bought loads of boys' clothes for her. I think they wore dresses now and again but not often. They liked plainish Jersey tunic ones as they were quicker to pull on than separates.
Again, nobody commented.

I didnt want them to feel there were options that were closed to them.
I didnt particularly pay more attention to them either way or comment much other than in relation to comfort.

It's probably an unusual way to do things but it isn't wrong or fraught with criticism unless most of the people in your life are rude and sexist.

LobsterNapkin · 27/09/2021 15:38

I think it's quite unusual these days to find people really put out about boys playing with dolls, or even barbies. Most people realize than many kids just play with all the different types of tows, at least sometimes.

You may get a little more push-back if you put him in very obviously "girly" things like sequins and bows, at least for normal dress rather than playing dress up. TBH I'm not sure I would do it as a matter of principle, unless he seems quite keen. In my experience wearing somewhat conventional clothing choices as a young child has very little correlation with growing up to be a sexist or to disrespect women.

334bu · 27/09/2021 15:35

Who cares what other people think. My son spent most of his babyhood in pink babygroes because he grew faster than his twin sister and I was damned if Iwas going to go out and buy new ones when I had brand new pink ones received as presents when they were born. She also wore all of the blue ones.

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