Collection: Gender Reveal
What Is a Gender Reveal?
A gender reveal is a celebration or event where expectant parents, along with family and friends, find out—or reveal to others—the biological sex (male or female) of an unborn baby. The reveal is often done in a fun or surprising way, such as cutting a cake with pink or blue filling, popping a balloon filled with colored confetti, or releasing colored smoke or fireworks.
The purpose of the event is to share the joy of the pregnancy and create a memorable moment around the discovery of the baby’s gender.
History of Gender Reveals
Gender reveal parties are a very recent tradition, especially compared to baby showers or birthdays.
In 2008, the first well-known gender reveal was organized by Jenna Karvunidis, a blogger and expectant mother in the United States. She cut into a cake with pink frosting inside to reveal she was having a girl. She shared the event online, and the idea quickly spread.
By the 2010s, gender reveals became extremely popular, thanks to social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok. Many couples began coming up with more creative and dramatic ways to reveal their baby’s gender.
However, some gender reveal events have caused serious accidents or environmental damage, leading to public criticism. Others have raised concerns about the way these celebrations can reinforce gender stereotypes or exclude non-binary and transgender perspectives.
Why Do People Celebrate Gender Reveals?
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Excitement and Joy
Finding out the baby’s gender is an exciting moment during pregnancy, and many people like to turn it into a celebration. -
Family Involvement
It provides an opportunity for family and friends to come together and share in the joy and anticipation of the new arrival. -
Social Sharing
With social media, many parents enjoy capturing and sharing the moment with others online. -
New Tradition
As medical technology made it easier to determine a baby’s sex before birth, people created new traditions to celebrate that moment. -
Creative Expression
These parties allow expectant parents to be creative and make the experience personal, fun, and memorable.
A Note on Gender vs. Sex
While these events are commonly called “gender reveals,” they actually reveal the baby’s biological sex based on anatomy. Gender identity, which is how someone personally identifies, may differ from biological sex and can’t be known before birth. Because of this, some people now prefer to call these events “sex reveals,” or avoid them altogether to be more inclusive.