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Original poster

Magic Faraway Tree - how sexist?!?!?

31 replies

CurlyhairedAssassin · 05/08/2010 23:09

I recently ordered the whole Magic Faraway Tree collection to read to DS (6) at bedtime. I remember the stories being so exciting as a child, and DS seems so far after only 4 chapters, to be loving them too.

Only thing is.....I thought they'd been modernized in more ways than just the children's names. (In our copies of the books the children's names are Beth, Joe and Frannie, not Fannie etc)

But I keep reading that Joe does this, that and the other......Joe said "Come on girls...." (and the girls come running) ...... Joe decided blah blah. Basically it seems like Joe's in charge and the girls are simpering seconds.

Also old-fashioned in other ways. Like "I say!" "Do let's!" etc. But that doesn't really bother me, it's the sexism and patheticness (is that a word?) so far, of the girl characters. Does it carry on like that?!

Also slightly amazed at things like "the children were set to work at once" (by their parents) when the family moved into their new house, having walked 5 miles there from the station. Can you imagine a thread on here in Property/DIY: "have just moved house - have already set the children to work".?!?!?

Oh I know it's only trivial stuff really but I just didn't think it would appear to be that old-fashioned. It's certainly different from our last one - The Bare Bum Gang!

OP posts:
ApplesandBananas · 05/08/2010 23:25

I was more concerned about 'Chinky' in the Wishing Chair, as that's the sort of thing a child might repeat at school and, unintentionally, cause offence.

I just adapt as I read them, but I don't worry about the gender-stereotyping so much.

MrsPurple · 05/08/2010 23:23

My DD1 (age 7) has just started reading this as I loved them when I was a child. At this age I don't think children think about sexism, it's just a good story.

Was actually more shocked when we sat down to read my old rhymes books (which my mum had saved) to discover the old version of eenie meenie minee mo, it still used the n word. Had to quickly change it and hop my daughter doesn't notice aah!

ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave · 05/08/2010 23:20

You can always edit as you read "Come on!" said Beth, and Joe and Frannie came running although IIRC Jo(e) is also the eldest so you could pitch it as an "oldest child is always in charge" thing.

TitsalinaBumSquash · 05/08/2010 23:19

Joe is the eldest.

I love the Faraway Tree books and am lucky to still have my copies form when i was a child, ds1 and i have started reading them together.
They are book written a long time ago in a time where males were dominant so of course the books are written for the time, however i dont think its an extreme amount at all.

pocketmonster · 05/08/2010 23:18

They were written between 1939 and 1951 - a different era - what do you expect?

To call them sexist is just silly, they are a product of their time.

differentID · 05/08/2010 23:15

Why is that sexist? just because a male character appears to take charge? if I remember correctly, Isn't Joe the eldest of the 3 children?

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