Sociology

Posted: September 9th, 2013

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Sociology

My initial reaction to the story was that of surprise and enlightenment. Society places profound importance in gender and gender roles. With this at hand, X’s parents, the Joneses, decide to take a bold step and raise a baby without letting the baby’s gender be known to everyone. The disappointment in the relatives’ faces shows the tough road ahead for the baby and its parents. The parents stand by the manual by the scientists and use it as a source of guidance and direction as it predicts every situation. X grows up to be an extraordinary child with no gender.

His parents however, deserve credit for not being pulled by the forces and principle society sets in raising children and allocating gender roles. Finally, X ends up influencing other children into having these principles and allowing them to engage in whatever activity without using gender as a basis. A psychiatrist runs tests and finds that despite X’s lack of gender identity does not make him lose his own identity. This is the enlightening part of the story and sends out a strong message to society.

Gender is very prominent in society in both the past and the present. Gender has been a major component of man’s life since civilization. Even during the early ages, people in society were divided based on gender. The women had different roles from men and communal activities were set on the same basis. This story further highlights gender and in my opinion, gender is important, but it should not guide every element of the society’s understanding. Inclusive of raising a child in a specific manner, when children are playing no sport should be considered to be for boys or girls.

This is a misconception created by society. Girls should also assume similar positions of leadership as boys. This also has a ripple effect in the growth of the child because when they grow up they can choose any career they want without using the picture of society that certain jobs are set aside for certain sexes. A child also does not lose his or her identity when they participate in activities perceived to contradict their gender roles contrary to what many in society believe.

The most surprising part of this story is the fact that X is able to convince other children that gender should not determine what they should or should not do. At first, he faces opposition but with time, he succeeds in enlightening the children and their parents. Many children grow up with the knowledge that they should play different games depending on whether they are boys or girls. However, X plays basketball and still participates in a baking competition. In addition, X’s outfit does not show whether he is a boy or girl as it is an overall in red and white color. Pink clothes are generally associated with girls and blue clothes with boys. The children are encouraged by X’s attitude and personality and adopt his behavior for instance Susie changes her outfit to overalls like those of X.

The reactions among the adults are typical of what would happen in real life. This is because society has set values for many things using gender as a premise. From the time a baby is born, people always want to know what sex it is. Children grow up being told specific clothes are suited for them, particular games are for boys and little girls are not expected to do “boy” stuff. Consequently, when they become adults this mentality is already brewed and matured into their mentality. Little can be done to influence them to change their thinking less of gender roles. The reaction of the children is also expected. They are innocent minds who are influenced by their parents. Children essentially adopt the teachings and guidance of their parents who have placed all importance to gender and impart this notion to them. However, as the children are also influenced by their peers they change their perception when they see that X is perfectly fine and normal unlike what their parents and guardians have been showing them.