Tesla founder Elon Musk and girlfriend Grimes became mom and dad to a baby on May 5. Named X Æ A-12, one wouldn’t be sure how to pronounce the moniker, all the more have an idea if it’s a boy or a girl.
The name itself sent fans ablaze as they figured out the meaning behind it. Moreover, it didn’t help that the businessman and the artist didn’t agree on how to properly pronounce that, which led more people wondering what really is the reason behind such a symbol-filled title.
Apparently, it stems from how they wanted to raise their child. The pair made it clear that they are going to practice gender-neutral parenting, further creating a buzz among their fans – but what is it all about?
The Norm
Most people have a name that’s presumably for a girl or boy. If you hear Catherine, you would likely assume that it’s a girl but if it’s John, then it’s a boy – this is the typical notion, which conforms to societal norms.
However, Grimes, or Claire Boucher in real life, admitted she didn’t want to assign any gender because she is uncertain if that’s how they would feel in the future. She and the SpaceX founder, therefore, join a steadily growing number of couples who adhered to this plan that also avoids allotting a color for the kids (pink for girls, blue for boys).
Social norms, or those unwritten rules that tell humans how to behave in a specific manner, is one of the reasons behind giving genders to children. Arguably, determining one’s gender isn’t all about what can be seen by the eyes.
Sometimes, the gender assigned to you will not go with your gender identity. A lot of people soon realize that they don’t identify with the gender given to them at birth.
How It’s Done
The truth is, there’s not a single formula on how to raise your child in a gender-neutral way. It greatly varies but parents all over the world have become creative in doing this.
For example, couple Sean and Elizabeth Scotten gave their baby the name Elliot Claire, which embraces both genders. As such, this is a big help for the children once they already know where to identify later on.
The Problem
Even though you may want to name your kids in a gender-neutral manner, only a few states allow parents to place an X to mean they aren’t assigning any gender to them. The common practice is that couples must be prepared with names upon childbirth and, most often than not, the children’s gender is already determined once a baby comes out.