You've Got to Be a Few Sequins Short of a Tutu to Raise Your Son as 'Gender Neutral'

Byline: by Melanie Phillips

WHEN Sasha Laxton was born five years ago, his parents decided they wanted to avoid classifying him as either a boy or a girl.

They felt that to do so was a kind of 'sexual stereotyping' which had to be avoided at all costs.

So instead of referring to their son as a boy, they talked about him as the 'infant' and kept his gender secret from all but a few close friends and family until he started school.

So proud were they of what they were doing that they even posted on YouTube a video of Sasha saying it was 'silly' to talk of differences between boys and girls, and sent friends pictures of him dressed as a pink and glittery fairy.

Damaging To which most people will probably be shaking their heads in disbelief and thinking: 'That poor child.' Doubtless, Sasha's parents love their son and want to do only the best for him. But really, it is hard to believe that people can be quite so desperately misguided, not to say completely out to lunch.

It's one thing for parents to encourage their sons to be a bit more gentle and caring, and their daughters to be a …

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Publication information: Article title: You've Got to Be a Few Sequins Short of a Tutu to Raise Your Son as 'Gender Neutral'. Contributors: Not available. Newspaper title: Daily Mail (London). Publication date: January 25, 2012. Page number: 14. © 2007 Daily Mail. COPYRIGHT 2012 Gale Group.

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