Gender & Stereotypes: A Review of the Article X: A Fabulous Child's Story

"X: A Fabulous Child's Story" by Lois Gould, is a fictional short story about a scientific experiment in which a child is raised by parents who have agreed not to impose gender stereotypes upon the child. The Joneses, hand picked scientists, had to be fully willing to enter into the top secret experiment; which required that they not to tell anyone else whether "X" (the baby) was a boy or a girl. Baby X was raised with boys and girls clothes, toys, and "plenty of bouncing and plenty of cuddling". With the help of the "Official Instruction Manual" which explained what to do in certain situations, the parents and X made it to school age which is where the story comes to its first significant climax. How was X going to get along with the "Other Children" who were raised according to rules for boys and girls? X's enjoyment of football, baking, basket weaving, building robots and playing basketball confused the other children who were taught to break those activities into boy or girl groups. While at first the other kids made fun of X, soon they realized that it was fun to give up their assumptions of gender appropriate games, and just play what they wanted. Unfortunately for the other children, for X's parents, and of course X, the parents of the other children were upset by their children's behavior. Even though the parents of the other children forbid the children to hang out with X, "the other children stayed mixed up, and happy and free". Finally, the Parent's Association demanded that X be examined by a psychiatrist to determine what sex X is and "whether X is mixed up or everyone else is". The story ends with the psychiatrist declaring X the least mixed up person that he has ever examined. The parent's realize that the sex of X will be known when it becomes old enough for sex to matter.

We are affected, whether or not we wish to be, by the environment around us. We can choose not to stereotype others by race, by age, by sex, etc., because we know intellectually that it is not accurate. Unfortunately for us, a large portion of the society in which we live, continues to apply and teach stereotypes. For children especially, this is difficult as they do not understand that gender can be altered because it's a social construction in the first place. I wish society would realize that terms gender and sex are not interchangeable. By not allowing for deviation from what is considered the norm for each sex, we foster fear which fuels hatred towards those who differ (i.e., transsexuals).

I enjoyed the story, and thought it was a good tool to help me to realize the social construction of gender. I decided long ago that I would encourage my children to participate in what activities interest them; whether gymnastics for a son, or aspirations to be President for a daughter. I never realized though that gender branding occurs at such early ages, and can impact a child. I agreed with the conclusion of the story that sex should matter only when it is useful to the adolescence for it to be. The story helped me to decide not to find out the sex of my baby when it's time… but to wait and enjoy the baby "X".