The Internet is reacting to Jeannie Mai-Jenkins and Jeezy allegedly raising their child to be gender fluid or gender neutral. Their decision sparked debates on social media and blogs.
Jeezy’s fans, in particular, are having difficulty understanding the concept of raising a child to be genderless.
RELATED: Jeannie Mai Jenkins & Jeezy raising their newborn child to be gender fluid
Gender fluid means a person who’s gender expression or gender identity is neutral or shifts between masculine or feminine from day to day.
The Gender fluid movement is part of a larger agenda to raise children who view sexuality on a spectrum rather than strictly heterosexual.
Parents who choose to raise a genderless baby typically expect friends and family to avoid using male or female pronouns in the presence of their baby. They are also asked to refrain from giving their child toys designed for girls or boys.
Stores like Target eliminated its pink and blue aisles to help parents who are raising their children to be genderless.
Jeannie recently revealed her child’s gender neutral nursery that lacks the primary colors red, blue and yellow. Primary colors cannot be mixed from other colors and are the source of all other colors.
A baby’s developing brain needs primary colors in order to see the world correctly. Toy makers use the colors red, blue and yellow for this purpose.
RELATED: When Can Babies See Color?
AllHipHop.com reacted strongly to the news that Jeezy, formerly “Snowman,” is raising his child to be gender fluid.
“I will say this, that is a far cry from the Snowman that we once knew from back in the day if this is true. Clearly, Jeezy has grown up right before our eyes over the last couple of decades and he is no longer a drug-dealing & rapping Trapstar.”
Forbes.com published an article featuring tips on raising a gender fluid child.
1. Make gender less important
Remove gender labels from your language. Focus on how kids can be free of restrictions based on gender norms. Don’t comment on a girl’s physical appearance.
2. Point out sexism in the world around them
Parents must teach their children about sexism and stereotypes. Help kids recognize stereotypes whenever you spot them and know how sexism shapes the world we live in.
3. Remember that toys do not have a gender
Give children toys that are vital to their physical and psychological development such as blocks and board games that teach counting and spatial skills.
4. Watch out for the “pink and blue tsunami”
The brain is at its most malleable up until around the age of seven. “This is why gender neutrality matters,” says Gina Rippon, professor emeritus of cognitive neuroimaging at Aston University, UK. She says avoid the “pink and blue tsunami,” in which the constant stressing of differences between boys and girls will change their brain and their behavior.
5. Do not try to erase gender
Don’t emphasize gender but don’t completely erase gender either. The goal is not to erase gender, but to reduce the impact of gender stereotypes that accompany gender labels, says Lisa Dinella, associate professor of psychology at Monmouth University, New Jersey.
