Welcome to another episode of Hudsons Monthly Musings (I just made that up)! This past week, my newsfeed has been flooded with the groundbreaking parenting of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who are allowing their daughter Shiloh to go by the name John in yet another groundbreaking act of redefining gender roles. I havent actually read a single article about this; my information comes entirely from various headlines about the subject, but there are a few things about this story that bother me. Honestly, I could care less that their daughter wants to be a different gender than what society has constructed for her. Good for her. Shes trying to define who she is. That isnt a problem. However, the fact that she wants to be called John is a problem. Forgive me if Im wrong (which I rarely am), but are names not also socially constructed aspects of gender? And is she not being heralded for defying those same socially constructed aspects of gender? Yet, by choosing the name John, she is strengthening an aspect of societys concept of gender. Why cant the name Shiloh be used for a guy? This is a poor example because I think that name is gender neutral anyway, but say, instead, her name is Jessica. It would be far more groundbreaking to be a boy (by the cultural stereotype) named Jessica, than to conform to how society would name a boy, and change her name in accordance. In addition, I have a problem with the fact that her parents will call her John. I dont want to make any misplaced assumptions (I dont think this is misplaced), but parents dont frivolously name their children. Maybe the name Shiloh has a special story behind it, or maybe Pitt and Jolie both just like the name. Either way, the name has some meaning behind it. Im sure they didnt give their child a name for the purpose of it being abandoned. Yet, by giving into the request to be called John, they abandon whatever meaning that Shiloh had that made it worthy of their childs name in the first place. Personally, I would not call my child any name other than the one that I give him or her. So, if I have a son named Hudson who wants to be a girl called Jane--too bad. Shell be a girl named Hudson. Anyways, I think people are overreacting over what the 8 year old child of a celebrity couple would like to be called. As a former 8 year old, I can attest to the frivolousness of the choices of an 8 year old. Im not saying this is just a phase for Shiloh, but it certainly isnt something for the nation to fret over. Deuces.
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 07:22:35 +0000
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