Canadian parents say baby's sex is secret
Source: Agencies |
May 29, 2011, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A CANADIAN couple says it's none of the world's business to know their baby's gender despite a firestorm of criticism over their controversial decision to keep the infant's sex a secret.
Kathy Witterick said her four-month-old baby Storm should be able to develop its own sexual identity without having to conform to social stereotypes or bow to predetermined expectations associated with gender.
Witterick, 38, and her husband, David Stocker, 39, have faced a backlash since the couple's story first appeared in the Toronto Star last weekend. Witterick says their critics are being judgmental.
Witterick said in an email Friday that the idea that "the whole world must know what is between the baby's legs is unhealthy, unsafe and voyeuristic. We know - and we're keeping it clean, safe, healthy and private (not secret!)."
Witterick said Storm has a sex which those closest to him or her acknowledge and said they don't know yet about the baby's color or dress preferences.
Witterick and her husband have also been criticized for the way they are raising their other two children. Five-year-old Jazz and two-year-old Kio are well aware that they're boys, but have been encouraged to shun gender norms and express themselves in whatever way they wish.
Witterick said Jazz has the right to choose his clothes and hairstyle and said he chooses freely to wear pink despite criticism.
"Jazz has a strong sense of being a boy, and he understands that his choices to wear pink and have long hair are not always acceptable to his community," she wrote.
Witterick said the couple has been trying to keep their children safe from a media frenzy but said it has been difficult.
Kathy Witterick said her four-month-old baby Storm should be able to develop its own sexual identity without having to conform to social stereotypes or bow to predetermined expectations associated with gender.
Witterick, 38, and her husband, David Stocker, 39, have faced a backlash since the couple's story first appeared in the Toronto Star last weekend. Witterick says their critics are being judgmental.
Witterick said in an email Friday that the idea that "the whole world must know what is between the baby's legs is unhealthy, unsafe and voyeuristic. We know - and we're keeping it clean, safe, healthy and private (not secret!)."
Witterick said Storm has a sex which those closest to him or her acknowledge and said they don't know yet about the baby's color or dress preferences.
Witterick and her husband have also been criticized for the way they are raising their other two children. Five-year-old Jazz and two-year-old Kio are well aware that they're boys, but have been encouraged to shun gender norms and express themselves in whatever way they wish.
Witterick said Jazz has the right to choose his clothes and hairstyle and said he chooses freely to wear pink despite criticism.
"Jazz has a strong sense of being a boy, and he understands that his choices to wear pink and have long hair are not always acceptable to his community," she wrote.
Witterick said the couple has been trying to keep their children safe from a media frenzy but said it has been difficult.
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