IMAGINE THERE’S NO GENDER…
What would it be like to live in a truly genderless society?
One where boys were named Lisa and girls were named Jack; all clothes were unisex; public toilets were not branded as “his” or “hers” and all sports were open to all sexes.
No “good morning, boys and girls” from teachers and no “welcome, ladies and gentlemen” at official functions.
The gender-neutral Egalia Preschool in Sweden.
Why? What would be the point, you may ask? Well, in Sweden, many think there is a point.
In Sweden – designated as the most gender-equal country in the world by the World Economic Forum in 2010 – there is a push for the nation to become gender-neutral.
That would mean that government and society would not tolerate any distinctions at all between the sexes.
Activists say that right down to pre-school level, boys and girls should be given “the same opportunities to test and develop abilities and interests without being limited by stereotypical gender roles”.
This Swedish toy catalog recently showed a boy in a Spiderman costume pushing a pink pram, while a girl in denim rides a yellow tractor.
It even means a new pronoun. Activists have proposed a gender-neutral personal pronoun – hen – instead of he, han in Swedish and she, hon.
And in what’s been seen as a triumph by some, this new pronoun was added to Sweden’s online version of the country’s National Encyclopedia.
But not everyone is keen.
Jan Guillou, one of Sweden’s most well-known authors, referred to proponents of hen as “feminist activists who want to destroy our language”.
A former equality expert at the Swedish Confederation of Professions, Elise Claeson has said that young children can become confused by the suggestion that there is a third, “in-between” gender at a time when their brains and bodies are developing.
“Adults should not interrupt children’s discovery of their gender and sexuality,” she said.
And yet, going gender-neutral would certainly allow any type of couple to marry, erase any disparities in pay rates between the sexes and open any institution to men and women alike.
So, over to you, Hooplarians.
Do you think a gender neutral society is a good idea? Is it even possible? Or is there still much joy to be had in the difference between the sexes?
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13 Responses to this article
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Georgie April 13, 2012
No, not a good idea. Only a small number of women are female activists, the vast majority of us are quite happy & proud to be women. If women want to be truck drivers, miners, mechanics, whatever, they can be now, and men don’t do, but do we all want to share the same toilets & showers?
There must now be very few pre-schools, playgroups,etc that do not allow boys and girls to do exactly the same activities, and most primary and secondary schools do too. As a relief teacher I have gone into many schools where the boys do eg. sewing and girls do woodwork if they want to. What is wrong with recognising that there are inherent differences between the sexes? Are we really so insecure? The only real problem that still exists today that I can see is that sometimes women are discriminated against in the pay they get for equal work, but that is improving and will eventually be sorted out. Maybe a little discrimination regarding opportunities for promotion still exists, but many women are not as ambitious as men so of course there are fewer women in top jobs.
I for one do not wish to be classed as a hermaphrodite and rather like, and appreciate (it doesn’t happen often these days, chivalry is a thing of the past most of the time) having doors held open for me, being offered a seat on a bus or helped with a heavy load. In any case, just changing the pronoun probably will do very little to change discrimination issues, rather just produce more problems.
No, I don’t think there is a place in today’s society for hens. -
Louise April 13, 2012
My 3 year old son refers to everyone as ‘he’. I’ve stopped correcting him because without going in to the ‘birds and the bees’ I really have no other way of explaining to him what the difference is. Besides I love the innocence of it.
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Amanda April 13, 2012
I suspect these activists are primarily motivated by a desire for gender equality which as I see it does not mean we have to be treated as the same. There is no doubt that women and men are different. The Female Brain by Dr Louann Brizendine (Bantam Press 2006) is a very accessible summary of years of research which demonstrates clearly the differences between the male and female brain. And yet these differences went unexamined for many years, beginning in the early 1970s, when unisex was first regarded as a pre-requisite in the fight for equality. As we raise and educate our children, we should take into account these differences just as we do other strengths and weaknesses which might affect they way they respond and learn.
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Louisa April 13, 2012
My son came home from his first day of school and told me there were lots of boys in his class and some of them were girls. I regret not asking him how he knew the difference. I was laughing too much. When he was 11 he asked me if there is such a thing as a boy lesbian because he thought he might be one. He said he wants to be a boy and a girl as well. We talked about felminine and masculine energy and how we can access both. He was very relieved. He is 25 now and in a loving relationship. He recently asked me if guys get clucky because he thought he was. I am very proud of him.
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Sue Elliott April 15, 2012
I reckon gender neutral is just another way of dumbing everything down. In my youth I used to say that men and women were all the same, but now with the wisdom of wrinkles I can easily see big differences. Of course some women fit the male stereotype and some men fit the women’s but generally I reckon we see things a bit differently and go about things in a slightly different way. It is the balance between men and women that is important. I sure don’t want to do away with the differences.
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Kate April 15, 2012
I think a gender-neutral word for inanimate objects and animals (where you can’t obviously tell which sex it is) is a good idea. Even though I try not to, I refer to most things as ‘he’ and now my 3 year old does too. It’s a natural reaction but it annoys me as it sends the message that most things are male-related which in turn may give the impression that males are better. Clothing and names I prefer to be separated. Toys I subconsiously buy ‘girl’ toys, even the little trampoline we have is pink.My parents bought my girls a little kiddie couch each. both of them are pink. I don’t think things like that should be boy/girl.
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Kid April 16, 2012
There’s a big difference between a truly equal society where people regardless of gender can express their identity however they wish without judgement, and the society being proposed here. Unfortunately I don’t think it’s proponents realise that.
One of the biggest lies we’ve been sold is that gender is a social construct. It’s not, gender identity is hardwired. It’s ideas about gender expression and stereotypical behaviours that are social constructs.
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ellenni April 16, 2012
gender neutral – well we had boy george – and then he grew up. its the loony minority as usual who want to make a statement so they are noticed.
there is a saying – very old i know – empty vessels make the most noise. these minority groups seem to have a need to get themselves noticed because they havent enough in there lives.
we have both gay and straight persons in our wider family and all get on well.
men will always be men and most women are happy to let them be so. we know who we are and so to do they.
let and let live. -
Sheree July 2, 2012
It sounds noble in theory, but I think there are still fundamental differences between the genders that make this vision of complete equality a bit of a stretch yet.
Take your comment about erasing pay disparities – existing pay disparities are often not about a boss going, “I’ll pay you more because you’re a man” but because men tend to be more comfortable than women asking for payrises. How is this addressed by changing the pronoun?
However, I think “the same opportunities to test and develop abilities and interests without being limited by stereotypical gender roles” is sensible and laudible – if we can strive for this equality of opportunity while still celebrating the valuable differences between men and women, then THAT I think is the real dream
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Laura July 12, 2012
I wish there was no man or woman. I wish we were just people who reproduced asexually. I hate discussing sex/gender because when ever you start talking about it people get all pissed off and the right-wingers and feminists can’t ever agree. Imagine a world without wage gaps, rape, prostitution, homophobia, domestic violence, the housewife stereotype.
Obviously, there are different sexes and it can’t be changed, but perceptions of GENDER CAN be changed. So, therefore, I think this pre-school is a great idea, because, believe it or not, humans are still evolving and to me, gender equality is a step in this evolutionary process.
