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Gender reveal parties have gotten pretty problematic in recent years.
Lots of people flat out don't think they're necessary, but even among those who like the idea there's a growing sentiment of "... just chill."
Part of the reason people are espousing going back to simple things like cutting a cake is that gender reveal parties have gotten so over-the-top that people are getting hurt. We've had broken bones, a pipe bomb that killed someone rather than burst with confetti or whatever, and an Australian gender reveal party caused a car to catch fire and burn.
Not to mention the thousands of acres burned by fires started because of these parties. It's not rare. It's happening right now. Again.
Currently as we type this, over ten thousand acres of land are burning in California. The cause?
A gender reveal party gone wrong. A pyrotechnic device was supposed to reveal colored smoke so everyone could cheer and clap for pink or blue.
The pyrotechnics malfunctioned and instead of a little puff of pink or blue smoke, we got an orange apocalypse.
No, not 45. We mean this fire.
The El Dorado Fire which is visible from Idyllwild, California started by a Gender Reveal party https://t.co/BRrlsdECMn— Stone (@Stone)1599695425.0
In response to this fire, and so many more (seriously, millions of acres around the world have been razed by gender reveal parties. It's bonkers.) Professor Sarah Parcak decided to share a few suggestions for genital, er... gender reveal ideas.
Parcak is an Egyptologist and archaeologist who has spent her career studying societies and cultures across both distance and time. In other words, she is passionate about people, places and all of the weird and wonderful things that make them what they are.
She's also passionate about how ridiculous this latest gender-reveal disaster is.
American disfunction can be summed up by refusing to wear a mask during a global pandemic because “personal freedom… https://t.co/2nyxx4HS0j— Professor Sarah Parcak (@Professor Sarah Parcak)1599507602.0
Yeah, she's not a fan.
She is, however, a scientist and intellectual so Sarah came to the table with solutions. She's not just here with data.
Sarah's solution?
Knowledge... and cake.
Gender reveal parties, but instead of blowing up something to see blue/pink smoke, at the crucial moment, an Anthro… https://t.co/NhhYhEoKh7— Professor Sarah Parcak (@Professor Sarah Parcak)1599509940.0
Instead of blowing up things for a gender reveal party, the parents to be should hand out wallets. If there’s a dol… https://t.co/vQBehZMbnP— Professor Sarah Parcak (@Professor Sarah Parcak)1599478862.0
For Parcak, gender reveals have moved into the realm of the ridiculous and the destruction they cause is just inexcusable.
She's not the only one who feels that way. She's also not the only one with ideas on alternative gender reveal celebrations.
Just take a look at some of the comments on her posts.
It's... a journey.
@indyfromspace @Drew_Lab Gender reveal parties, but instead of blowing up something to see blue/pink smoke, a Paleo… https://t.co/0hw90TVtkC— A. (@A.)1599520308.0
@lorelei_lyn @indyfromspace Here in Yucaipa, CA, too. I’m so damned pissed about it. People are morons.— CALIFIA (@CALIFIA)1599656628.0
@indyfromspace When I read your comment, my first thought was "Ooooh, burn!" But given the current news I realized… https://t.co/ARf04eIRab— Danielle Thorndyke Spencer (@Danielle Thorndyke Spencer)1599614490.0
@PookiePookerson @indyfromspace I thought it was weird back when you cut into a cake and the icing revealed blue or… https://t.co/HV0uB2qdkA— Redhead Designer (@Redhead Designer)1599568223.0
@indyfromspace My family is from Croatia, where the language actually doesn't specify gender for little kids...most… https://t.co/GAqR6Zms7m— Sandra Repar BLM (@Sandra Repar BLM)1599620357.0
@majesticalexis @indyfromspace Or just bake a cake or something instead of doing a ridiculous, environmentally dest… https://t.co/no2JvBHQN4— Lisette HOM🔔 (@Lisette HOM🔔)1599497250.0
@indyfromspace If every guest would loudly refer to them as Genitalia Reveal Parties, while repeatedly toasting ”Ra… https://t.co/Rx7nwb1Npr— samantha (@samantha)1599580580.0
We don't know if the family in this latest disaster will see charges or fines. It stands to reason that they may, as other families have seen legal action from gender reveals gone wrong.
What we really want, though, is for the trend of blowing stuff up to tell people whether or not your baby has a penis to burn out with this fire. Just stop.
Gender is a thing that develops and changes over time and means different things in different societies. If you insist on having a genital reveal party, call it that and do it without explosives, pyrotechnics, ballistics and balloons. The environment thanks you.
We promise, your baby will still be loved and still have genitalia if you just eat some cupcakes or something.