Sexism from birth

[missmem]

Why, oh why when there are articles about babies or children i.e. development, does the description always use "she" and never "he"? It annoys me - someone explain it to me or is it as sexist as I think?

JonandHate - in the case of genital ambiguity (or whatever it's actually called) in modern times can't they just take some blood and do a chromosome test (perhaps chekcing for sry translocation) and see if the child is genetically male or female? I would imagine that beign XX or XY, and therefore having different hormonal mixes, would be the deciding factor.

I guess they can't but I imagine it doesn't tell the whole story. If people who are born a certain gender can feel it is so wrong they change it... But I'm no expert and am likely talking out of my own arse

oops, I guess they can....

I know there are transgender people etc, but the majority of people identify with the gender that their XX/XY profile would indicate, so if you are a doctor with a small baby and have to make a choice in one direction or the other...

How will this kid know what a boy or girl is if the parents never use the word "he" and "she". This kid is a social experiment and will probably be home-schooled to keep her from the word - more damaging than telling Pop it's gender!

I know parents who wanted a boy desperately and were very upset to have a girl. From birth they dressed her in boys' clothes, gave her a gender-neutral name, cut her hair short, pierced one of her ears and encouraged only 'male' activities. It's very, very, very odd. She's 10 now.

Trillian, it seems it's not so simple...

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