What exactly is a "gender reveal party?"

[MoonRiver]

[Phoenix61]

1. It's when the happy soon to be parents reveal the

gender of the baby. They sort of replaced baby-showers which were traditionally women only.

[MoonRiver]

2. Thanks, I also just googled it.

The other ? is why the hell have pyrotechnics at such an event???

[Phoenix61]

6. The can get a little over the top. Just a guess

the pyrotechnic were blue or pink. The norm is an iced cake with either pink or blue cake. Some docs write the gender on a piece of paper and put it in an envelope that the happy parent(s) take to the bakery so they find out at the party too.

[dewsgirl]

8. Fortunately they don't all include pyrotechnics.

The cake at my son and DIL's gender reveal party, simply had pink inside of it.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

3. More accurately, it's an "external genitals reveal" party.

It's when the parents reveal the sex of the baby as indicated by external genitals on the ultrasound.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

7. This

and it is crazy and it is literally harming us.

[jimfields33]

12. They are fun. Most don't cause harm.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

14. Admittedly they don't all cause forest fires (but this isn't the first such instance)

The issue resonates a little more with me though, because I'm Trans and have witnessed how the concept of assigning gender to children before they're even cognitively aware of it can be harmful to the child down the line though if they don't ultimately identify with that gender.

[jimfields33]

21. I totally understand that.

I do like them but that doesn’t mean we need them. I definitely could see this being a negative aspect of gender identity. Honestly, I just like party food. Maybe we should just celebrated the baby and keep it at that. I understand they changed it to gender reveal so men could come. Instead just have men and call it a baby party instead of baby shower.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

27. Celebrating the impending birth of a baby

seems like a better choice. I mean, really, who cares that much whether it's going to be a "boy" or "girl"? People should be happy about just having a child IMHO. But I know old habits and traditions are hard to break. I have hope for the future, however.

[Blasphemer]

34. I agree. They are probably a transitory phenonmemon with future generations likely to...

create gender-neutral (or gender-irrelevant) celebrations. My sister had a co-ed shower. That worked out just fine.

[Crunchy Frog]

35. It's a "gender to be assigned at birth" party, technically.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

42. Even better.

[irisblue]

37. Sometimes amniocentesis as well

[Hoyt]

4. My Lady Friend's 25 year old daughter had one. They shot off this thing like a Roman Candle that

was either Blue or Pink smoke.

Confirmed my decision not to have kids. But I like her kids and the little grand-kids.

[malaise]

5. Funny- one of our walking partners

was explaining this to me on Saturday - we were talking about the latest ways young people with more money than sense find to blow cash.

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

9. Being surprised was more fun...

Plus it’s STILL FREE!

[MoonRiver]

11. Yes, I remember all the grand parents waiting expectantly by their phones!

It was fun to give them those calls, plus info that the baby had all her fingers and toes!

[honest.abe]

10. Seems rather silly to me.

When we found out our baby was a boy we simply sent an email to all our relatives and friends. I dont think its particularly party-worthy but that's just me I suppose.

[KentuckyWoman]

13. More attention and gifts for the new parents

I think they are ridiculous but then I am an old lady. Expensive weddings baffle me also.

[Klaralven]

15. Like weddings, I'm sure there is a gender reveal industry making money off of this

And promoting it as hard as possible on social media

[KentuckyWoman]

20. To each their own.

Hopefully the celebration generation will be ok when they can't work anymore.

I am not being snarky. Every generation does it different.

[Boomerproud]

16. Exactly! There's also "diaper parties" now.

I didn't ask to support their kid.

[Celerity]

26. nappy parties are usually for the men, its the male equivalent of a baby shower

the blokes bring nappies and beer

you can get creative and bring a nappy cake, but that is usually given by women at a shower





unisex

[panader0]

17. When everyone takes off their pants?

[milestogo]

29. In that case you wouldn't need the pyrotechnics.

[meadowlander]

36. Speak for yourself

[RainCaster]

18. Another way to troll your friends for gifts before the kid is born

[Journeyman]

19. A joyous occasion for parents-to-be marked sometimes by massive wildfires . . .

California wildfires: Gender reveal party blamed for fire (2020)
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-54053811

Gender reveal party sparks 10-acre fire in Florida (2020)
https://www.wptv.com/news/state/gender-reveal-party-sparks-10-acre-fire-in-florida

Iowa sheriff: Deadly gender reveal party explosion was stunt gone awry (2019)
https://www.wymt.com/content/news/Iowa-sheriff-Deadly-gender-reveal-party-explosion-was-stunt-gone-awry-564029571.html

'Gender reveal party' triggers 47,000-acre wildfire causing $8m of damage (2018)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/11/28/moment-gender-reveal-party-went-horribly-wrong-caused-wildfire/

[tanyev]

22. I think the first ones were always simply cutting into a cake to find pink or blue.

But thanks to social media and social influencers, the stakes have been skyrocketing, to the point where we now have parties where people get hurt or spark large wildfires. Pinterest and Instagram have a lot to answer for, IMO.

[beachbumbob]

23. showing your age

[Celerity]

24. +1000

[John1956PA]

25. Recently, I saw a clip on TV wherein the large gender-reveal balloon got snagged on the front gate.

The balloon burst and flung pink flotsam everywhere, thereby ruining the surprise for anyone who witnessed the mishap or noticed the debris.

[Submariner]

28. Obviously a party to destroy local wildlife and habitat

At least it happened now when the fledglings have left the roost.

[Doodley]

30. I thought genders were fluid these days, anyway. Why place so much emphasis on gender?

If it's a boy, what does that mean? Does it mean only give boy toys, or boy clothes, or plan so he can fit a male stereotype? I don't get it, and even though I'm a straight male in my 50s, I've not got it for decades.

[Luciferous]

32. That's exactly what I was thinking! Why make such a big deal about gender?

[roman88]

39. For future familial purposes

Having a boy means that boy may carry on the family name and have children who may do the same, of course having a girl means losing that last name but potentially birthing fufure children to carry on the genetics. Its that way forever. Obviously this doesnt factor in sexuality, abstaining from having kids or complications with giving birth, etc.

[hunter]

43. My wife would have dumped me if I'd asked her to change her name when we married.

I grew up in a fiercely matriarchal family so it wasn't an issue. It's possible my immigrant ancestors never fully embraced the naming conventions of the U.S.A..

In many parts of the world naming conventions were not codified until the 20th century. My last immigrant ancestor landed in the nineteenth century.

So many problems evaporate if we identify people as they choose to be identified.

In patriarchal societies wives and children are labeled with the names of men.

[Luciferous]

45. I use my maiden name as well

[Luciferous]

44. But I don't think a lot of people care about that anymore, it's just another way to get attention

and another thing to post on social media

[Luciferous]

31. An exercise in narcissism?

[LuckyCharms]

33. It's where you get drunk at a party and show off your penis.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

40. So, it's just another Saturday night? nt

[LuckyCharms]

41. I prefer not to limit myself to a specific day.

[cwydro]

38. It's been a thing for awhile.

I find it odd on any level, but hey, just cut a cake and see the color inside or use balloons or something.

People started this pyrotechnic shit just to make a big splash on social media. Beyond weird.