Parents in the United States were urged to establish their child's gender identity at the age of four. The plea to establish the child's gender identity by preschool was sent by Brighton and Cove City council.
According to The Telegraph, parents were asked to help their children choose the gender they're comfortable with. The decision-making is said to be done before the child would go to preschool.
In a letter released by The Sun, Brighton and Hove City Council released a letter addressed to the parents. It was cited that parents should support the child's decision and gender preference. The council's plea was released a few months after the students from Blatchington Mill School in Hove were sent a gender survey containing 25 questions.
"We recognize that not all children and young people identify with the gender they were assigned at birth or may identify as a gender other than male or female," the letter wrote. "However, the current systems (set nationally) only record gender as male or female. Please support your child to choose the gender they most identify with. Or if they have another gender identity please leave this blank and discuss with your child's school."
Though the city council's aim is to help the children and their parents establish a stable gender identity, the plea; however, accepted countless negative feedback from parents and experts alike. the said gender establishment plea may appear confusing for young children as they are not yet bound to grasp the concept of gender classification.
Stephanie Davies-Arai told The Telegraph that a child as young as four years old does not even know what the word "gender" means. It will only lead to confusion that would eventually give the child emotional problems.
The gender establishment letter sparked several feedback as some parents find it inappropriate to label the child as young as four. Do let us know your thoughts in regards to this issue. Should a child establish his/her gender identity before preschool?
