Celine Dion is a terrific woman by any standard. Her life story is interesting, her successes are incredible, having performed with so many fantastic vocalists and having sold numerous smash hits and albums. After losing her husband, manager and life-long partner whom she first met and fell in love with when she was twelve years old, she is nowadays a rich and famous woman who is enjoying life with her three sons. Recently she has launched a “gender-neutral,” or, unisex clothing line for children: CELINUNUNU. The birth to fourteen fashions have no Blue (for boys) or Pink (for girls), but come in Black and White with all the design variations in mixing these two colors. Dion says that she is not telling parents how to rear their children, but wants to open people’s minds and avoid enforcing gender stereotypes on youngsters who, she believes, have to “find themselves.” What, I thought to myself, has gotten into her, and into people like her who are now advocating for this “gender-neutral” premise for Children? And why are we messing up those children all the more with these non-proven, non-scientific, experimental approaches? Don’t they have enough to deal with already?
Babies are born with a Biological body: a penis for boys, and a vagina for girls. This is a Fact that no new experimental fad can alter. And, from birth until their brains mature enough (generally in their early to mid twenties) it makes sense to have them be what they are Biologically born as. Having said that, it is okay for boys to play with dolls, for instance, and for girls to play with trucks. Much to the horror of my traditional in-laws back then in the early Sixties and Seventies, I bought dolls for my boys, and trucks for my daughters. I also know so many young girls who tried urinating while standing up like boys, and realizing that they made a mess, did not try it any more. I also know young boys who enjoyed dressing up as girls, and having tried it and had their giggles rarely tried it again. Moreover, so many girls throughout the ages have said: I want to be a boy, and so many boys have said: I wish I was a girl. All of this and more, is absolutely alright and very normal. We are also becoming more aware of not telling little boys, for instance: Don’t cry, be a man! Or, telling little girls: Climb down from that tree, you’re not a boy! However, indicating to immature children with our words, behavior and expectations that they have “the option” of choosing who they want to be during their early and formative years is truly going way overboard with our modern theories.
Many of us are at a time in our development as civilized people when we are in a position to be accepting, tolerant and respecting of people’s choices: get married, or not; have a family, or not; become a doctor, or an astronaut etc. etc. These choices are no more being dictated by parents, traditions, cultures or beliefs. Thank Heavens for that! We are also becoming (not all of humanity is there, and many have far to go yet) more aware of genetic inclinations, as well as personal preferences and, therefore, accepting, tolerant and respectful of people’s sexual orientations. We should be. This does not mean that we mess up a Little Child by insinuating that they have sexuality choices and options. They do not! Just as they have no choices or options for smoking, drinking alcohol, going to school, lying, bullying etc. etc., sexual orientation is definitely one of those no choice options. There are simply some things that we do not and cannot allow our children to choose from during their very early, impressionable and vulnerable years, especially, when a few of them might be questioning their sexual identity, as well as questioning their own feelings regarding these matters. Meanwhile, and until their brains have developed sufficiently, they should realize that whatever they feel, or think is fine, but that they cannot act upon their wishes, or desires. It’s as simple as that!
So, yes, in order to move forward we must always think out of the proverbial “box.” It is a good thing for us to do so, otherwise, humanity will not go forward, advance or become more civilized. We cannot, and should not, categorize and box ourselves into any mindset or any tradition and limit our progress towards achieving a more optimal way of existing. The Suffragette Movement, The Women’s Liberation Movement, MeToo, Black Lives Matter and other such organizations wouldn’t have happened had we still been thinking inside the box and accepting of the status quo. And, yes, there are a few – very few! – kids who might not belong to their given biological body. However, do we negate the entire reality of Boys and Girls in order to bring on awareness about a rare situation? Perhaps, rather than teaching Children that they can be whom they want to be sexually and leaving it up to Finding Themselves, we would do much better by stressing how they should respect, accept and love themselves and others no matter what their ethnicity, religion, or gender is. However, in our efforts to be understanding, let’s not go radical, as we do on so many issues, and end up experimenting with a whole generation based on an untested idea that goes against Nature and Biology and, more importantly, against Reason and Common Sense. So while life is always presenting us with problems, for which we often find solutions, and, occasionally, the solution itself might present a new set of problems, I sincerely hope that a sweeping change would not be on the subject of gender-neutrality For Children!! Children!
Suggestion to Celine Dion and others who advocate this gender-neutral approach: We have enough problems to deal with as humanity without adding another unnecessary dimension. Meanwhile, let the Children Be Children who will, in due time, Find Themselves when sometime during their twenties their brains would have developed enough for them to do so. At that point, they can decide what their sexual identity is, and, if different from their biological and physical body, take the necessary steps towards achieving that fulfillment. Until then, influencing them, no matter how subtly, with the idea that they have the option of choice, and leaving them to wonder: am I really a girl, or, maybe, I am a boy – during their early and formative years is simply ludicrously wrong.
My Seventy Year Old Eyes 