Gender Open Parenting: A Path to Childhood Autonomy with Nanette Ryan

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Dr. Nanette Ryan discusses gender open parenting, a model allowing children to determine their own gender in their own time without imposing gender expectations based on assigned sex at birth. According to Dr Ryan, this approach creates space for autonomy and protects children from potentially harmful patriarchal gender norms while providing them with knowledge to navigate gender in society.

• Gender open parenting involves non-disclosure of a child's assigned sex at birth except to immediate caregivers
• The approach differs from gender-neutral parenting and gender abolitionism by embracing plurality of expressions
• Three key elements: non-disclosure, creating inclusive environments, and education about gender norms

This conversation is based on Dr Ryan's recent paper:

• Ryan, Nanette. 2025. “Autonomy and Gendering in Childhood”. Feminist Philosophy Quarterly 11 (2). https://ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/fpq/article/view/21632.

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