Mum Who Invented Gender Reveal Parties Now Completely Regrets It

Gender reveal parties have got to the point, in much the same way as other viral trends, where they're starting to become annoying.

If you've never seen one before (how the hell have you avoided them?) then these parties are easy: you invite loads of people and pop a balloon, cut into a cake, do a burnout, or something else creative and either blue or pink stuff reveals the gender of your baby.

They've been done all over the world in all different varieties that have led to a variety of emotions. Some people are ecstatic about the news whereas others don't hide their disappointment.

Interestingly though, the woman who's largely credited with inventing the craze completely regrets it.

Jenna Karvunidis was blessed with her daughter in 2008 after several painful pregnancy losses.

Before the birth, Jenna and her husband threw a small party, organised a cake and cut into it to find they were expecting a girl.

Never did she realise this was going to be replicated by people everywhere. More than 10 years later, she has watched in horror as the trend morphed into the phenomenon it's known today.

Writing on Facebook, Jenna said: "I've felt a lot of mixed feelings about my random contribution to the culture. It just exploded into crazy after that.

"Literally - guns firing, forest fires, more emphasis on gender than has ever been necessary for a baby.

"Who cares what gender the baby is?

"I did at the time because we didn't live in 2019 and didn't know what we know now - that assigning focus on gender at birth leaves out so much of their potential and talents that have nothing to do with what's between their legs."

Interesting turn of events.

To be fair, there have been a few parties which have got completely out of control.

There was one in America which caused a massive grass fire that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. There have been a few reveals involving burnouts in Australia that have led to people being arrested and charged.

Speaking to Today Parents, Jenna added: "Gender reveal parties are cancelled. I cringe when I see them now. The insane levels people are taking them just to celebrate one of the most mundane facts about their child is just bizarre.

"Let children be. Let them explore. The gender norms have become so rigid and narrow, it's a wonder anyone can breathe. We can't reduce kids to 'guns or glitter,' so let's stop.

"Let's do 'name reveal' parties or 'Surprise, I'm pregnant!' parties. There are a million ways to celebrate your life that don't involve putting anyone in danger."

There you go guys, the inventor wants you to calm down and chill out so let's stop all this madness.

Featured Image Credit: Out.of.Focus/Creative Commons

Topics: Interesting, Community

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

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