• Home
  • Campus
    • Academics
    • Greek Life
    • SGA
    • Student Life
  • State/Local
    • Around Town
    • Board of Regents
    • National
    • Pierre
    • Vermillion City Council
    • Vermillion Police Department
  • Sports
    • Cross Country
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Men’s Basketball
    • Soccer
    • Swimming/Diving
    • Track and Field
    • Volleyball
    • Women’s Basketball
  • Verve
    • Feature
    • Diversity
    • Events
    • CAB
    • The Vault
  • Opinion
  • E-Edition
  • COVID-19
The Volante
The Volante
  • Home
  • Campus
    • Academics
    • Greek Life
    • SGA
    • Student Life
  • State/Local
    • Around Town
    • Board of Regents
    • National
    • Pierre
    • Vermillion City Council
    • Vermillion Police Department
  • Sports
    • Cross Country
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Men’s Basketball
    • Soccer
    • Swimming/Diving
    • Track and Field
    • Volleyball
    • Women’s Basketball
  • Verve
    • Feature
    • Diversity
    • Events
    • CAB
    • The Vault
  • Opinion
  • E-Edition
  • COVID-19
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
Can we knock it off with gender reveals?Opinion
Home
Opinion

Can we knock it off with gender reveals?

October 29th, 2019 Cecilia Gillen Opinion comments

Share this story

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest

Gender reveals are out of control. Literally. In Iowa, a homemade pipe bomb meant to shoot off-colored powder went wrong when a piece of debris hit a family member in the head, killing her instantly. 

Obviously, this incident was tragic and unintentional, but it was also avoidable. I’m of the opinion that the gender of a baby should be an intimate and respectful experience. Gender reveals are more harmful than joyful. 

Gender stereotypes

I thought we were trying to move away from the whole “blue is for boys and pink is for girls” thing? What seems to be a simple act of popping a balloon or letting off an explosion, is really a reinforcement of gender stereotypes. When we have to vote on the gender of the baby by choosing a tiara or a sheriff’s badge, we’re not only strengthening these stereotypes within ourselves but pushing these expectations onto the future baby. It’s predetermining a path for a child who hasn’t even popped out of the womb yet. 

Also, it’s not really celebrating the gender of the child, but rather its anatomical sex. I’m not here to explain or argue the difference but in short, we’re missing the whole point of welcoming a child into the world if we’re just going to tell them what they have to be. 

You get what you get, and you don’t throw a fit

All too often, I watch gender reveal videos only to witness a parent get upset over the gender of their future baby. Fathers lose it when they find out they’re not getting a boy, and mothers have a hissy fit when they’re not having a little girl. 

What these parents fail to realize is that having children is a privilege. There are so many couples that would give anything to have a baby of any sex but can’t. Through their struggle, these couples know that any child is a gift and would love them the same no matter what.

When people rudely ask my dad “how he deals” with a household of four girls, he says, “All I wanted in my younger years was to be surrounded by women. I finally got my wish!” 

If you only want a certain gender, you’re not ready to be a parent. Have fun showing this video to your future kid and explaining that you didn’t really want them the way they are! Reference point one and remember that there’s not a superior gender. 

Y’all are being extra 

The money and time spent on these parties is almost sickening. It’s great to celebrate the joy of life, but when cakes and balloons cost thousands of dollars you have to wonder who the party is really for. A more intimate and relaxed celebration is much more appropriate, and the money you save could be put toward a future fund for the baby. If we really wanted to celebrate the baby, we’d do away with all of the nonsense. 

Share this story

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest

Cecilia Gillen

Cecilia Gillen is a junior majoring in media & journalism. She is the current advertising manager for The Volante.

Related Posts

Opinion

Editorial: Temperature, water, the fate of our planet is in our hands

Apr 24th, 202238
The issue of climate change has been a problem for years, but it is evident that we are now experiencing the...
Opinion

Don't take my advice

Apr 24th, 202239
If there is one thing you should not do in your lifetime, it’s listen to me. However, as my time here at...
Opinion

Giant pandas are a treasure worth protecting

Apr 24th, 2022132
I recently watched a documentary on the life of a panda in captivity. Zookeepers and scientists all agree...

Facebook Comments

Latest Stories

May 10th 12:47 PM
Campus

Dispatches from the CDC: Remembering voices of diversity

Apr 25th 11:31 AM
Sports

Sara Reifenrath: The best accident

Apr 25th 11:30 AM
Sports

Stella Fairbanks back-to-back Summit League Champion

Apr 25th 11:29 AM
Sports

Coyote softball splits home opening weekend against NDSU

Apr 25th 11:28 AM
Sports

The track and field team saw nine first place finishes in four-day span

Apr 25th 11:26 AM
Sports

USD track and field conquers individual events in California

Apr 25th 11:26 AM
Sports

New additions are made to the Coyote basketball teams

Apr 25th 11:25 AM
Sports

Coyote softball sweep Fighting Hawks in Vermillion

Apr 25th 11:24 AM
Sports

Coyotes defeat Omaha, prepare for Summit League Tournament

Apr 25th 11:18 AM
Sports

Men’s track produces 25 top 10 finishes

Weather

Coyote News

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zH8Dbag4i0

Advertisement

Read about: Best Detox Shampoos for Hair Drug Test and Synthetic Urine and Fake Pee manual
  • Home
  • Campus
  • State/Local
  • Sports
  • Verve
  • Opinion
  • E-Edition
  • COVID-19
  • Back to top

The Volante

The Volante is the University of South Dakota’s independent student-run newspaper since 1887. Al Neuharth Media Center The Volante 555 N. Dakota Street Vermillion, SD 57069

Advertisement

About

  • About
  • Code of Ethics
  • History
  • Awards
  • Executive Staff
  • Jobs
  • Comment Policy
  • Advertising

Engage

  • Letters to the Editor
  • Contact Us
  • Submit an Overheard
  • Subscribe
  • Submit News Tips

Media Partners

  • Coyote News
  • KAOR 91.1
  • Media & Journalism Department
© The Volante 2015. All rights reserved.