UAE | Society
Gender Bender: Environment plays key role in gender identity
Children are influenced by the people around them
- By Mohammad Jihad, Community Web Editor, Gulf News
- Published: 00:00 June 21, 2011
Dubai: It's a question people ask on hearing about the birth of a child — is it a boy or a girl? A Canadian couple is refusing to answer that question. They have decided to keep the gender of their baby Storm a secret in a bid to free their child of social limitations.
The couple allows their young sons, aged five and two, to choose their clothing — even allowing them to wear pink dresses.
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Are we shaped by nature or by nurture?
Not surprisingly, the news has generated immense controversy with many accusing the couple of setting Storm up for social alienation once he or she grows up.
Over a year ago, a similar experiment was carried out by a couple in Sweden, who kept the gender of their two-year-old child, named Pop, a secret. Gulf News decided to ask psychologists and six sets of parents on what they thought of the concept?
What they psychologists say
Children copy what they see around them. This also means that they are influenced by the people around them and this tends to impact their sense of self or identity.
According to Dr Ron Villejo, who holds a doctorate in clinical psychology, all factors affect children's gender identity — from the environment around them to the kind of messages they receive via the internet.
Villejo said: "Regardless of the child's gender, the environment that he or she grows up in, whether it is positive or negative, plays a big role in the development of their identity."
Stereotypes, such as men are better at sports and women are more creative, might affect children as they observe and are influenced by many things around them. Villejo said: "Such a stereotype might discourage a girl from playing sports, even though she is good at [sports]."
If a teacher or guardian views a child in a certain way based on their gender, it will change how the child views himself or herself. He said: "The environments that the children are in, are powerful forces and affect how they will grow up. It helps to shape gender identity and their sense of well-being and success later in life."
This does not mean that the child's gender identity is only affected if they are targeted.
Villejo gave an example that if a girl notices a difference in how a teacher treats male students in class then this will play a role in shaping her identity.
He added: "Children need a positive environment for them to grow into proper adults."
Dr Raymond H. Hamden, a clinical and forensic psychologist, also pointed out that the personality of a person is the sum total of all experiences.
However, if the gender of a person is undisclosed then society might disengage from them.
Dr Hamden said: "Humans need definition and closure. When definition is not clear, the closure is lacking, and avoidance may be the defence. In other words, that person may become disliked by society and as a result will withdraw him- or herself socially."
For example, a toddler's world is his or her parents. But when they grow up, peer acceptance becomes more important to them so "gender confusion might result in the individual withdrawing to avoid being rejected," he said.
— With input from Heather Madore/ Community Solutions Editor
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