Last Sunday I almost choked while sipping my coffee at breakfast after reading the following headline under the “Toys” section of CNN: Teen inspires first transgender doll.
The doll Jazz Jennings debuted two weeks ago at the New York Toy Fair next to books that teach the ABCs, play dough, and robots. It is worth to mention that the toy maker, Tonner Doll Company, specializes in adult collectibles and high-fashion dolls.
Jazz Jennings, 16, is one of the most recognized faces in the LGBT community in America. According to her parents, she “came out of the closet” during her 5th birthday party when she decided to wear a one piece girl’s bathing suit in front of all his friends.
Before I go on I have to admit that I don’t know a transgender person, whether an adult, teen or child, but I respect their the sexual orientation the same as religion and political stand. Nonetheless, the image of a transgender doll on the shelves of toy stores within the reach of children, disturbs me.
Regardless of how hard the showbiz crowd or the social media–add the toy makers to the list now– want to normalize it, the Gender Identity Disorder (renamed Gender Dysphoria by those who wanted it removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) has deep psychiatric roots and consequences in a individual’s life.
Different from homosexuality, the conflict between gender identity and the body physiology that is assigned at the time of conception, GID requires extensive evaluation and psychological support to preserve the emotional balance of the patient. Nevertheless, the Jazz toy maker launched its doll as if it were another Barbie.
For decades, plastic guns have been banned from stores around the world, because according to experts, military toys incite violence. And so I ask, wouldn’t the exposure of the new transgender doll to the innate curiosity in children generate an unnecessary confusion at a young age?
I am not burying my head in the sand like an ostrich; I am aware that social roles have changed. There are as many sexual orientations as there are ice cream flavors and I really don’t care. What I do care about is a group of adult business people complicating the innocence of children.
The doll Jazz looks exactly the same as any other but the package is full of prejudice. Liberal progressives call themselves champions of the vulnerable who fight for equality, but it is them who label everybody dividing society into different groups.
My son is almost six and yet hasn’t asked me about transgender people, but I know that the question is not far away. Last Monday I had to take him to the pediatrician due to a cold and while we waited, I read a pediatric magazine with a headline on the cover that read, “Raising Transgender Kids”.
As my Granny would say, “You can’t cover the sun with one finger“, but at least I hope my son can be a kid for a while, because childhood is short. He has the rest of his life to be an adult.
Thanks for reading and sharing.
Xiomara Spadafora
Good crazy woman 