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X: a fabulous child's story

2/28/2012

3 Comments

 
One of the most iconic works of the unisex era is Lois Gould's short story, "X: a fabulous child's story", a tale of an "Xperiment" in gender-free child-raising. It first appeared in Ms. in 1972, and was expanded into an illustrated children's book in 1978. (The Gender Centre in Australia has the story online.)
Picture

Here's a quick summary: 

A baby is born to two parents who have agreed to keep its sex a secret, as part of a huge, very expensive scientific experiment. They are given a thick handbook to help them navigate future problems, from how to play with X to dealing with boys' and girls' bathrooms at school. 

While other adults react with hostility, X's schoolmates eventually start imitating its freedom in dress and play. Finally, the PTA demands that X be examined, physically and mentally, by a team of experts. 


If X's test showed it was a boy, it would have to start obeying all the boys'rules. If it proved to be a girl, X would have to obey all the girls' rules.

And if X turned out to be some kind of mixed-up misfit, then X must be Xpelled from school. Immediately! And a new rule must be passed, so that no little Xes would ever come to school again.
Of course, X turns out to be the "least mixed up child" ever examined by the experts. X knows what it is, and "By the time it matters which sex X is, it won't be a secret any more". Happy ending.

Ah, the 70s! Between this story, Harry Nilsson's "The Point" and "Free to be You and Me", the future looked so clear and bright. What happened? I will be taking a close look at the vision in each over the next week and discussing here, but would love to hear your memories and reactions.
3 Comments
Pam Kueber link
3/14/2012 01:33:03 pm

Hi, Jo! The 1970s were formative years in my life -- I graduated high school in June 1977. I think the Future did turn out to be quite bright for me and for my generation. For sure I have clothing stories: Loving my shiny red Mary Janes at First Communion -- but balking because I wasn't allowed to be an alter boy... Wearing shorts under my school uniform so that I could hang and twirl on the jungle jims at recess... Fighting with Dad so I could get a "hippy vest"... Carrying around petitions in 6th grade asking why we girls couldn't wear pants. I recall being heartily encouraged by my mother and my grandmother. They wanted me to have more opportunities -- and I got them. I think that the clothes we wore in the 1970s were crazy wonderful... We could wear anything we wanted; we could be anything we wanted; we became anything we wanted.

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Katie
3/29/2012 01:05:30 pm

I almost missed the '70s (born in '79) though I was raised in their spirit, I think. In any case, I was pleased to see your summary of the story of X. I actually first read it when I was researching home economics textbooks for a history paper a few years ago. The textbook (printed in 1985) had a copy of the story in it, for students to read.

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personal folder file link
8/1/2013 08:35:14 pm

Lois Gould's story has a lot of relevance to parents who wants to bring up their kids in a unisex manner. The comic series were also very entertaining providing a lot of insight on the topic of unsex children and their issues. As mentioned it is the mindset of the people that need to take a huge leap.

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    Jo Paoletti

    American Studies
    University of Maryland

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