Gender Neutral Parenting: What is it?

Gender neutral parenting is about encouraging traits in your child that make a good human, not just a good man or woman. It’s about raising kids without enforcing traditional gender roles on them. This conscious type of parenting sets kids up to be successful no matter what society says they should or shouldn’t do. And there’s a growing number of people who believe in raising their kids without preconceived stereotypes.

Our society is inherently patriarchal, and in recent times, there has been a rise in the demand for the girl child to counter that. However, in contemporary marketing we also see that it’s acceptable to market “tomboy” or traditional boy elements to a girl (playing sports, wearing baseball caps), but marketing stereotypical “girl” toys or activities to a boy (like playing with dolls or ballet) is not as welcomed. Both girls and boys should be raised without any biases to allow every opportunity available to the child.

Development begins at a very early age. Early childhood is the period when the majority of brain development takes place. Whatever a child is exposed to during this phase forms the building blocks for how they will perceive and react to the world later on in life. Gender biases that are imposed during these early years in various ways, such as the toys and colors made available, could cause children to dissociate from what they really like and want to do.

Pro’s of gender neutral parenting:

• Creates more autonomy in children.
• Highlights important values like creativity and individuality by offering freedom of experience and choice.
• Opportunity for a wider range of hobbies and interests that can enhance their insights.
• More adaptable and familiar with the interests of the opposite gender.
• Increases the child’s awareness of self and identity.
• They grow up learning to be unbiased in any and every situation.

Tips on gender-neutral parenting:

1. Show your little one that there are no gender-specific tasks, even at home. Household chores and errands can be divided and shared equally.
2. Try to find role models who don’t…