When parents are expecting a baby, the most important thing to most of them is obviously for the child to be born healthy and live a happy life. However, some parents put a lot of importance on what the sex of the baby will be. They will buy clothes and decorate the room accordingly. Although gender norms are starting to fade and parents try to not enforce a specific color or activity on their future baby, there are still people who do that.
Some people even make a really big thing out of finding out what the baby's sex will be. They organize parties that are specifically dedicated to revealing if they will have a boy or a girl. And these parties can get really cringey. In this list, you will find some of the bizarre ways people find out what they're having and some concerning cake ideas.
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If you think that gender reveal parties are an old tradition, you’d be wrong as the party that is considered to be the first one took place in 2008. A blogger named Jenna Karvunidis made a post about the special cake she baked which, once cut, revealed the sex of the baby as the icing was supposed to be either pink, meaning she would be having a girl, or blue, meaning she would be having a boy.
Even though Jenna was the first to have a gender reveal party, she doesn’t like what it has become. She said numerous times she regrets “inventing” it and in a Facebook post has said, “I've felt a lot of mixed feelings about my random contribution to the culture. It just exploded into crazy after that. Literally—guns firing, forest fires, more emphasis on gender than has ever been necessary for a baby.”
Bored Panda reached out to Jenna and we learnt that she is being a busy bee: “I am in my 3rd year of law school and through that, I do things like volunteer at a name change clinic helping people who are trans to legally change their name and pronouns. I’m also a Girl Scout leader, Vice President of my Women’s Law Association, Treasurer of my Environmental Law Society, co-founded Sierra Madre For Racial Justice in my community, and I was the official host of the Pasadena Women’s March last year. I also have 3 daughters and love to paint giant paintings.”
This Gender Reveal
We wanted to know more about the original gender reveal party and we got to know why Jenna came up with the idea in the first place. The party Jenna made was just a simple reveal of the cake icing. She told us, “I was just trying to get my family excited about my baby. I was estranged from my parents at age 17 and I haven’t seen them in about 10 years now, but there was a short time around the time I got married and had my first baby that we were on better terms. I was trying to get them to be involved, so I threw a party to reveal the gender of the baby thinking that would get them excited about me.”
Just A Little Bit Too Obsessed With Genitalia
Someone Dyed Their Dog Blue For A Gender Reveal And It Ran Away
She also told The Guardian that she'd had several miscarriages previously and when she finally got pregnant and the pregnancy lasted to the point at which she could know the baby’s sex, she wanted to celebrate that, but people who wanted to recreate the party started putting emphasis on the wrong aspects of it.
She told Buzzfeed, “I just feel like there are a thousand details more important about a person than their gender. It’s a bad detail to hang on for a baby, and just because it’s the first thing we know about our kids, it’s not the most important by far."
Also, it is worth mentioning that even though the party is always said to be a gender reveal, it is actually the biological sex that is revealed. Jenna wrote in the mentioned Facebook post, “PLOT TWIST, the world's first gender-reveal party baby is a girl who wears suits!”
Jenna also told Glamour, “She has her opinions about there being many genders, and she is informing me about things. She was biologically born a female, and she is still ‘she’ and ‘her’ and says she’s a girl, but she is still doing things her way.”
We asked if she was the one that coined the term, but actually, when she was having the party, she “called it a 'peep show' because the cake was shaped like a bird.” Jenna also added, “Anyway, about the party itself—that was 2008 and I didn’t know the things I know now. Gender is a construct. Learn more, do better, I guess!”
Gender Reveal Redneck Style.
Great. Pollute the air your pregnant wife is breathing. What a fantastic idea.
High School Acquaintance Wins The Award For Worst Gender Reveal Ever
Marijuana-Themed Gender Reveal Cake
When asked why she thinks gender reveal parties are so popular and why people care so much, Jenna had a guess. She said, “I think people care about these events because pregnancy can be a lonely time. You love this little baby so much, but then the parents realize their support systems are lacking. Parties bring people together. So maybe people are trying to set their tribes.”
Only Worn Once! Great Addition To Your Gender Reveal Party!
Meanwhile In Florida... Aligator Assisted Gender Reveal
I find myself rooting for the alligator. Wildlife does not exist for your entertainment!
Gender reveal parties are receiving more and more criticism because they are often sexist and they get crazier by the day. After these parties, many people just leave confetti and it creates litter, and there have also been cases where the parties caused wildfires, cars have exploded, and the scale of these parties for some has reached that of a wedding.
So this list shows the cringey side of the parties and that people should relax a bit and focus on other things that are more important about the baby. But tell us, what do you think of gender reveal parties? Do you think they can be done with taste? Or do you think they are completely unnecessary? Also, don’t forget to upvote the most cringey photos!
From The Gender Reveal To The Fondant, This Whole Thing Feels Pointless And Unnecessary
Pretty Sure This Belongs Here... 90% Of Gender Reveals Are Trashy Af.
I feel the need to point out two things. (1) Most cis folks think that gender reveal parties are abysmally stupid and unnecessary. (2) Princess Leia was a Jedi.
Colour code you children so people know what their genitalia look like.
Note: this post originally had 35 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
I imagine that most of the people that order the cakes with glitter, bows, and tutus versus guns, trucks and basketball are the kind of people that follow very strict gender norms, and would not want a daughter that drives a truck or a son that wants to dance. Am I right?
Nailed it.
Exactly. No parent who does a gender reveal part is going to treat their kids equally. If they would then they wouldn’t care about the sex if the baby. The fact that they do shows that they will treat the baby differently depending on the genitalia.
Well that's not true at all. I mean there our people who do like girly things. There are people who like boyish things. I think having the choice between either is what matters. I know plenty of people that did gender reveals and they do not think the way you are saying. Nor would they ever treat their kids unequally. That just isn't true.
Burs, you're twisting it into something it's not. There's nothing malicious about it. No matter how badly you want it to be malicious. People like pink things people like blue things. This stuff exists and as long as when that child gets older they get to pick whatever they want and be whoever they want. There's nothing wrong with it. When I found out I was having a girl yes I went out and bought clothes for a girl. But make no mistake about it as she grew older if she wanted to wear all boy clothes and blue or do whatever she wanted she can. You have negative thoughts about it and that's your right. But don't put those things on other people especially people you don't know. You do not have a right to tell other people how to live and do things. Nor is it okay to lie and say people are focusing on their child's genitals. You're making it nasty and think the way you think. Nobody doing a gender reveal party is being perverted, so stop. If it's not something you choose to do don't do it. But to act like other people shouldn't do it or it's gross is not okay.
Doing a gender reveal means that you are giving importance to the sex of the baby. Only a sexist person who has a set of expectations for a child regarding to their genitalia would celebrate it. You wouldn’t do a “hair colour reveal party” because nobody believes that hair colour makes you different. The fact that they celebrate the sex shows that they do.
Also, the group includes a few animal abusers
No---it's called "humor"...Ps==the baby will not be harmed.....
I think you're very wrong about it being most people that think like that. I'd say some, not most.
The incredibly sexist cakes are awful, yes, but hey, at least they don't endanger animals or people or cause massive wildfire so I guess that's a win ?
Yes, not burning down hundreds of square miles of forest is definitely a bonus.
Unless they are part of an ensemble involving pyrotechnics, airplanes, machine guns and smoke bombs. Also manslaughter. There were a few party where that was on the list of entertainments.
Who cares what your child's gender is? Just be glad you have a healthy child! And, no, you don't need to know to "buy things" ------ diapers are diapers are diapers.
"But you have to choose pink or blue diapers!" smh.
Not to worry, the little one will decorate them for you soon enough.
There can be reasons to want to know the sex. Family medical history that's more prevalent in one sex or the other for example. But in that case you find out and prepare. You don't keep it secret for a stupid party
That is different than throwing a stupid party celebrating gender roles
But there is no need to throw a party to announce it to everyone else.
There's no necessary need for parties ever; quincanearas, anniversaries, retirement, baby shower, graduation, birthdays, bridal party, etc. I think having a non-harmful gender reveal coupled with a baby shower is fine.
Yes, you can know the sex of your baby but the reveal parties are wholly unnecessary.
I think over-the-top gender reveals are silly and in some instances; harmful to the environment. That being said - some people have to try really hard to conceive. EVERYTHING about that little baby is important to them. From my experience it's also important to the grandparents, other family or friends, etc. Purposefully harming the environment is stupid, the stereotypes are all cringeworthy disgusting....that doesn't mean they can't celebrate in a more normal way.
I seem to remember in the 1990s one of the major diaper brands tried to excuse their gendered diapers with "boys pee in the front and girls pee in the middle" and my mother basically saying the same thing you just did. And you know the specifically gendered diapers had to have been more expensive than the gender neutral ones.
And there are gender neutral clothes and toys. Let the kid figure out what they are into when they are older instead of forcing gender stereotypes.
A mother of 3 year old paternal triplets bought her two boys and girl each a doll and a truck. One played with the doll, one the truck and one gave the doll a ride in the truck.
I was the one giving the doll a ride in a truck:-)
@DarnAngelNic, thank you. My dad was big on the stereotypes, and it made us *miserable*. Parents may not want a gender-neutral room, but the child shouldn't be shoved into pink or blue or glitter or whatever just b/c parents forget that children are *people*, not just mirrors or whatever.
All toys and clothes are gender neutral. We need to start learning that.
Here's a novel concept: ask your doctor what the sex of your unborn child is and...just tell people! That solves the problem.
This comment has been deleted.
It's to know whether to get excited about having a girl or excited about having a boy.
It doesn’t need to be a whole party, but it can be nice to know in order to prepare. Not everyone wants a gender neutral baby room or clothes.
There is absolutely nothing inherently feminine or masculine about certain colours or clothes. You are just showing that people who care about this is just sexist.
The baby won't care one way or another. My mother forced pink on me throughout my childhood and I hated it. I still can't stand that babydoll pink to this day.
I imagine that most of the people that order the cakes with glitter, bows, and tutus versus guns, trucks and basketball are the kind of people that follow very strict gender norms, and would not want a daughter that drives a truck or a son that wants to dance. Am I right?
Nailed it.
Exactly. No parent who does a gender reveal part is going to treat their kids equally. If they would then they wouldn’t care about the sex if the baby. The fact that they do shows that they will treat the baby differently depending on the genitalia.
Well that's not true at all. I mean there our people who do like girly things. There are people who like boyish things. I think having the choice between either is what matters. I know plenty of people that did gender reveals and they do not think the way you are saying. Nor would they ever treat their kids unequally. That just isn't true.
Burs, you're twisting it into something it's not. There's nothing malicious about it. No matter how badly you want it to be malicious. People like pink things people like blue things. This stuff exists and as long as when that child gets older they get to pick whatever they want and be whoever they want. There's nothing wrong with it. When I found out I was having a girl yes I went out and bought clothes for a girl. But make no mistake about it as she grew older if she wanted to wear all boy clothes and blue or do whatever she wanted she can. You have negative thoughts about it and that's your right. But don't put those things on other people especially people you don't know. You do not have a right to tell other people how to live and do things. Nor is it okay to lie and say people are focusing on their child's genitals. You're making it nasty and think the way you think. Nobody doing a gender reveal party is being perverted, so stop. If it's not something you choose to do don't do it. But to act like other people shouldn't do it or it's gross is not okay.
Doing a gender reveal means that you are giving importance to the sex of the baby. Only a sexist person who has a set of expectations for a child regarding to their genitalia would celebrate it. You wouldn’t do a “hair colour reveal party” because nobody believes that hair colour makes you different. The fact that they celebrate the sex shows that they do.
Also, the group includes a few animal abusers
No---it's called "humor"...Ps==the baby will not be harmed.....
I think you're very wrong about it being most people that think like that. I'd say some, not most.
The incredibly sexist cakes are awful, yes, but hey, at least they don't endanger animals or people or cause massive wildfire so I guess that's a win ?
Yes, not burning down hundreds of square miles of forest is definitely a bonus.
Unless they are part of an ensemble involving pyrotechnics, airplanes, machine guns and smoke bombs. Also manslaughter. There were a few party where that was on the list of entertainments.
Who cares what your child's gender is? Just be glad you have a healthy child! And, no, you don't need to know to "buy things" ------ diapers are diapers are diapers.
"But you have to choose pink or blue diapers!" smh.
Not to worry, the little one will decorate them for you soon enough.
There can be reasons to want to know the sex. Family medical history that's more prevalent in one sex or the other for example. But in that case you find out and prepare. You don't keep it secret for a stupid party
That is different than throwing a stupid party celebrating gender roles
But there is no need to throw a party to announce it to everyone else.
There's no necessary need for parties ever; quincanearas, anniversaries, retirement, baby shower, graduation, birthdays, bridal party, etc. I think having a non-harmful gender reveal coupled with a baby shower is fine.
Yes, you can know the sex of your baby but the reveal parties are wholly unnecessary.
I think over-the-top gender reveals are silly and in some instances; harmful to the environment. That being said - some people have to try really hard to conceive. EVERYTHING about that little baby is important to them. From my experience it's also important to the grandparents, other family or friends, etc. Purposefully harming the environment is stupid, the stereotypes are all cringeworthy disgusting....that doesn't mean they can't celebrate in a more normal way.
I seem to remember in the 1990s one of the major diaper brands tried to excuse their gendered diapers with "boys pee in the front and girls pee in the middle" and my mother basically saying the same thing you just did. And you know the specifically gendered diapers had to have been more expensive than the gender neutral ones.
And there are gender neutral clothes and toys. Let the kid figure out what they are into when they are older instead of forcing gender stereotypes.
A mother of 3 year old paternal triplets bought her two boys and girl each a doll and a truck. One played with the doll, one the truck and one gave the doll a ride in the truck.
I was the one giving the doll a ride in a truck:-)
@DarnAngelNic, thank you. My dad was big on the stereotypes, and it made us *miserable*. Parents may not want a gender-neutral room, but the child shouldn't be shoved into pink or blue or glitter or whatever just b/c parents forget that children are *people*, not just mirrors or whatever.
All toys and clothes are gender neutral. We need to start learning that.
Here's a novel concept: ask your doctor what the sex of your unborn child is and...just tell people! That solves the problem.
This comment has been deleted.
It's to know whether to get excited about having a girl or excited about having a boy.
It doesn’t need to be a whole party, but it can be nice to know in order to prepare. Not everyone wants a gender neutral baby room or clothes.
There is absolutely nothing inherently feminine or masculine about certain colours or clothes. You are just showing that people who care about this is just sexist.