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Original poster

Growing popularity of Gender Reveal parties

42 replies

Sidmouthboats · 07/01/2018 08:37

A gender reveal party is a celebration where either the guests, the expecting parents, or both find out the gender of the baby.

Some arguments against them:
-Revealing the gender in a celebration is putting too much emphasis on the biological sex of the baby and may be setting them up to feel pressured to adhere to societal norms of 'female and male'.
-And finding out a babies gender is personal and should only be shared between the parents, sharing it with close relatives will ruin the intimacy.

Some arguments for them:
-It's up to the expectant parent to choose how they celebrate and enjoy the milestones of pregnancy such as finding out the biological sex of the child.
-And gender reveal parties can be a fun and enjoyable celebration that expectant parents look forward to and it can provide a great excuse to bring family/friends together and share a special moment.

-Would you have a Gender Reveal party?

-If you have had a Gender Reveal party, how did it go and was it well received by your invitees?

  • How would you feel about being invited to a close relatives Gender Reveal party?
OP posts:
shushpenfold · 07/01/2018 08:38

You sound like a journalist....are you?

Personally I can’t stand them as it seems like yet another excuse for a ‘look at me’ party.

Santasbigredbobblehat · 07/01/2018 08:39

Uneccessary.

StealthPolarBear · 07/01/2018 08:40

What are your views op

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
PasstheStarmix · 07/01/2018 08:41

Is it sex of the baby we have to say now instead of gender I don't know? The baby will be either a girl or a boy physically so I don't see a problem with announcing it in what ever special way you choose. It's a lovely moment when you find out. I feel all of this pc walking on eggshells is taking the fun and happiness out of things. When a baby is born they say you have a boy or a girl don't they? Or will they soon not be allowed to say that? The world is going crazy

Ylvamoon · 07/01/2018 08:42

To me they sound like a renaming of "Baby Shower". Glad my DC where born before these crazy fads.

PasstheStarmix · 07/01/2018 08:43

Are you thinking of having a gender reveal party Sidmouth?

Intelinside · 07/01/2018 08:43

They are hella cheesy and while I hope the parents have a healthy baby, I have no desire to whoop or cheer when a blue or pink balloon comes out the box. I'm excited to find out the SEX of my baby but under no illusions that no one else cares.

When I see American videos of them online I pray for the human race.

HerSymphonyAndSong · 07/01/2018 08:43

This isn’t really how the “what would you do?” section works

What is your opinion OP?

MaisyPops · 07/01/2018 08:43

It's hardly a big surprise now is it?
Boy or girl?
Nobody is going to go to one of these parties to be told 'surprise!? It's twin ducklings!'
Are you sure you aren't a journalist who can't write a story?

insancerre · 07/01/2018 08:43

I had a slightly different version
I invited all possible fathers to a huge party in spoons and then made them all wait in anticipation till I revealed which one was the dad
I posted the name of the dad on Facebook
I got 364 likes

PasstheStarmix · 07/01/2018 08:44

I didn't have a reveal or a shower as didn't see the point and I'm traditional and believe that if somebody wants to get a gift they can bring it after the baby is born. UK is turning into America with all of these events.

k2p2k2tog · 07/01/2018 08:44

Cheesy and dreadful.

And I don't believe in gender. It's a sex reveal.

1sttimeunicorn · 07/01/2018 08:46

I’m sorry to say I think they are utterly narcissistic and awful. I don’t agree with a lot of the fuss and dramatics around pregnancy and social media announcements, so the idea of a gender reveal party utterly turns my stomach.
I’ve never been invited to one and don’t know anyone who has had one but I’ve seen a few friends of friends posts on social media.
This could well be influenced by my experiences of pregnancy loss or the struggles of friends and family with infertility. I just find the fetishisation of pregnancy and motherhood is in very bad taste.

Onceuponatimethen · 07/01/2018 08:50

I know of this trend - friend had one with gender reveal cake and clearly really enjoyed it.

I think in our fractured society where new mums can be very lonely anything that helps a new mum get friends involved with the pg, celebrating the baby and build a support network is good news.

I personally wouldn’t have one because I think the gender of an Individual is one of the least important things about them and many gender related personality traits are culturally driven. But kept that to myself when gender reveal party was discussed around me!

Having said that names aren’t that important either and plenty use a naming party as an excuse for a welcome baby event if they aren’t religious!

shushpenfold · 07/01/2018 08:50

Insancerre Snort!! Grin

shushpenfold · 07/01/2018 08:51

OP do you have an opinion on this or are you just doing research?

MrsSchadenfreude · 07/01/2018 08:51

No-one really gives a shit what gender your baby is, apart from you. Gender Reveal parties are tacky and grabby.

seven201 · 07/01/2018 09:03

No one other than the parents or very close relatives would actually give a shit what the sex of the baby is. What's wrong with just wanting a healthy baby??? I think a party is absolutely ridiculous. I could maybe understand making a blue or pink inside cake and getting the older sibling to be to cut it for them to find out in a special way, but everyone else should just be told if they ask. I'm against baby showers too.

PasstheStarmix · 07/01/2018 09:05

why do you ask OP?

Original poster
Sidmouthboats · 07/01/2018 09:08

Really interesting to see how the majority of the replies are strongly against the idea.

@ Insancerre - this really made me laugh.

I'm 16 weeks pregnant, my sister is a party planner and she has suggested throwing a small one for myself and my partner when family from come to visit in February.

I hadn't considered it before pregnancy, I'm not opposed to the idea but after looking online to find out more about them, I was sceptical about how it would be received. I wouldn't want to throw one if I thought the invitees would be secretly disapproving. It would only be worth it if the invitees also thought it was a quirky and fun way to get together. After reading these, I think I'm going to give it a miss!

To the people who are against a Gender Reveal party, how do you feel about Baby showers?

OP posts:
MaisyPops · 07/01/2018 09:13

Honestly, I don't like lots of pre baby events.

To me, you are expecting a baby. A cute way to maybe tell best friends/family the sex of the baby might be nice/funny but not a party for an unborn child's genitals.
When the baby is born, it is customary to give a gift.
In workplaces, gifts tend to be given before maternity/paternity leave begins.

Again, why the party? If i want ti see my friends it's to see my friends, not play silly games like 'guess how many cm the bump is'.

Do whatever fits your circle.

insancerre · 07/01/2018 09:19

Sid
Are you not a journalist then?
😒
I hoped you might contact me for my story
I could have had a cocktail pitcher with my fee

brizzledrizzle · 07/01/2018 09:20

@insancerre that's a lame effort, I did nothing and then my Dd started inviting random ex lovers of mine to a Greek island so she could meet her father before she got married.

Oh, wait....

BashStreetKid · 07/01/2018 09:20

You've left out the main argument against them, which is that they're horrendously tacky.

ArgyMargy · 07/01/2018 09:21

Love the idea of sending invitations to a Sex Reveal.

I suspect the bias against these on here reflects the demographic of MN and also a resistance against the Americanisation of our UK society. I never even considered asking to know the sex of my unborn children. There is also something about not tempting fate, which may explain some people's reluctance. Many people just want to have a healthy baby before they start all the partying.