Is there any subtle way of challenging this?

[Thistledew]

Female friend just posted on FB of her 3 year old daughter how heartwarming she found it to hear "I love my daddy because he tells me I am beautiful".

I would love to say something about the early socialisation of girls without causing too many ruffled feathers.

Suggestions?

[EBearhug]

You're better than me; I wouldn't worry about the ruffled feathers.
(This post is not helpful to you.)

[Thistledew]

I know EBear, but she has been going through a tough time recently so I don't want to piss on her chips too much, just get her to think a bit.

[AskBasil]

There is no subtle way of challenging this.

Sorry.

[VegasIsBest]

I tell my sons that they are beautiful. Can't it just be a nice thing to say to your kids if you love them?

[SolidGoldBrass]

Do you see her and her DD often? Maybe when you do, praise the DD for cleverness/confidence/kindness or something? Given that you mentioned you don't want to fall out with your friend at the moment, I'd suggest not doing anything about one single facebook status.

[Thistledew]

It's not that her daddy tells her she is beautiful that I think is the issue (although it is a bit sad if it is already the highest praise he can give her) but the fact that the reciprocation for a praise of her appearance is to give out love.

[Thistledew]

I do try to give non-appearance praise when we meet, but this is only a few times a year as we are in different countries at the moment.

[ethelb]

I don't think I would challenge this in a 3 yr old. Sorry. I might talk about how clever/kind etc she is when u see her though.

[Thistledew]

How about

"Yet when they get to their teenage years we work hard to teach them that affection should be bought with far more than complements about appearance"

Is that too harsh?

[tribpot]

It is if you want to challenge this in a subtle way. I was going to suggest what Buffy has (minus the 'aw hun' FB bollocks as I have never typed that anywhere, other than in this post, in my life ). Just a 'She is beautiful and clever and kind and funny, bet her dad never stops telling her!'

I have to say I find the FB comment extremely creepy. She loves her dad because he says she is beautiful? If the dd had actually typed that (doubtful at 3!) it would seem extremely narcissistic.

[Bifauxnen]

It's not subtle, and it's compliments, I know, I know I'm a dick
I like the idea of finding a good post about the issue and tagging all parents, or just posting on your wall.
I do think it's a good sentence but I would have the guts to post it, things have a tendency to blow up unnecessarily on Facebook.

[AskBasil]

Thing is, you can't challenge anyone on anything on FB because it's a public forum and they feel like you're putting them on the spot. It's the equivalent of sitting in a big hall and you suddenly sitting up and asking a question with the mike of someone else in the audience - that person who might be perfectly amenable to discussing it over a cup of tea, will feel attacked and defensive if you do it in that arena with everyone else looking.

I think what your friend posted is really creepy and awful tbh, but I would really not tackle her about it in public, which is what you would be doing on FB.

[OutsSelf]

I think your way is quite harsh OP.

Why not post this to your timeline (next week) and tag her plus every mother to girls you know?

[Bifauxnen]

wouldn't have the guts to post.
Autocorrect has more backbone than me.

[Thistledew]

Thanks for all the suggestions. She has had one other slightly querying comment, so maybe if there are more I can slip something in. If not, I will follow the suggestion of posting something in a day or so and tagging her and others in.

[cailindana]

Challenging her on facebook, in front of (literally) all her friends, when she was trying to post something nice, while at the same time implying that her partner is sexist and her daughter is being taught the wrong things (ie you are a bad parent and your partner is rubbish) would be incredibly nasty and unnecessary. You're not her feminist guide and it's not up to you to comment on her life and set her on the straight and narrow.

I completely understand your problems with this, but wading in on someone else's life with your views - be that feminism, vegetarianism, religion, whatever, is not appropriate. If she's your friend, kindness comes first and didactic slapdowns come a very very distant second.

[ABlandAndDeadlyCourtesy]

It sounds like the sort of thing kids that age (and older) just say! Mine had grasped the concept that saying they loved me and DH was good and also that they should give reasons for things. So, "I love Mummy because she buys me cheese." Or, "I love Daddy because he makes me porridge."

I wouldn't be worried on the basis of a Facebook status, unless you know that's all she is ever praised for.

[WhatWitchcraftIsThis]

Have you got children OP?

Maybe respond with "ah, dd said almost the same thing to me the other day about how dp always tells her how funny and clever she is".

To be honest though if that's how your friend is she won't get it and calling attention to it might just piss her off. I'm right there with you though

[capsium]

If you know the daughter why not add some more compliments which you think might be more inspirational?

[capsium]

^ As in not only beautiful but also...[compliment of your choice].

[WhatWitchcraftIsThis]

That's quite sweet actually capsium