Apparently in vitro clinics in the US have started advertising something new: gender selection. Now, I don't know very much about the process behind it, but no matter how it's performed, I have definite issues with the concept.
First of all, this could create gender ratio inequalities like what we're seeing in India (see http://ucatlas.ucsc.edu/gender/gender_india.html for some more information on this). Which obviously in turn causes all kinds of other issues.
But even more, unconditional love, acceptance,and affection are crucial in a child's development. Would it really be unconditional love if it's basically a mail-order baby? Having kids is not about satisfying parental desires; if you are fit to be a parent then you will care for any child you have regardless of gender or other physical aspects. And what about sexism? There is already a definite preference for boys requested through this gender selection.
At least one clinic is even offering selection of hair colour, eye colour, and even skin colour (Is this ringing the racism bell, anyone? The sexism bell should already be pounding loud).
Why are we accepting this? Check out this excerpt from http://www.gene-watch.org/genewatch/articles/17-1darnovsky.html :
"Recent trends in consumer culture may warm prospective parents to such offers. We have become increasingly accepting of — if not enthusiastic about — “enhancements” of appearance (think face-lifts, collagen and Botox injections, and surgery to reshape women’s feet for stiletto heels) and adjustments of behavior (anti-depressants, Viagra, and the like). These drugs and procedures were initially developed for therapeutic uses, but are now being marketed and normalized in disturbing ways."
We have been lulled into accepting this kind of thinking, placing conditional value on human beings. It's a scary place to be, ladies and gentlemen.
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Monday, March 2, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
And You Thought the Cries for a Pony Were Bad
My mother just came home with a very interesting story for me. One of her coworkers had a five year old daughter who had been invited to a birthday party.
On the invitation, it read: "Child is registered at Toys "R" Us."
Yes. That's right. A gift registry for children. Where kids can sit down and make out a whole list of demands for their birthdays. Check it out: http://www.toysrus.ca/registry/index.jsp
The theory is that this is helpful, that the guests won't have to stress about what to buy. But what is this teaching the children? Instead of being grateful and pleasantly surprised, they expect everything they have demanded.
If I were the mother of the child who received that invitation, I would use it as a learning opportunity for my daughter. I would make a donation to a charity in the birthday girl's name, and my daughter would learn what giving is really about... which, by the way, is NOT making sure a five year old's every whim is met.
On the invitation, it read: "Child is registered at Toys "R" Us."
Yes. That's right. A gift registry for children. Where kids can sit down and make out a whole list of demands for their birthdays. Check it out: http://www.toysrus.ca/registry/index.jsp
The theory is that this is helpful, that the guests won't have to stress about what to buy. But what is this teaching the children? Instead of being grateful and pleasantly surprised, they expect everything they have demanded.
If I were the mother of the child who received that invitation, I would use it as a learning opportunity for my daughter. I would make a donation to a charity in the birthday girl's name, and my daughter would learn what giving is really about... which, by the way, is NOT making sure a five year old's every whim is met.
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