The Usborne Cookbook for girls

what does the blurb on the boys book say?

giving children the idea of "comfort eating" is a bad idea agreed

"Would a 'Girls guide to mechanics' inherently be bad if it actually encouraged girls to try something outside their comfort zone? "

I suppose it depends how it's done. I have visions of pink and sparkly internal combustion engines which would enforce stereoypes (i.e. girls will only be interested in something if it's pink and sparkly and dumbed down for their pretty little brains)

It's just lazy marketing though isn't it? It's easier to do one pink book for girls and one blue book for boys rather than design a book that would interest and engage all children.

I've just read the blurb for the Cookbook for Girls "A great book for any girls who are just starting to develop an interest in cooking, The Usborne Cookbook for Girls provides ideas for delicious food for every occasion, from sharing snacks for parties to comfort food for a quiet night in."

Anyone else bothered by the "comfort food" thing? That's not a great message for children is it, to eat when they are upset? Or am I over-reacting?

But is it neccessarily a bad thing to 'package' traditionally 'girls' things towards boys, IYSWIM. Despite my very, very best efforts DS6 is starting to come out with 'that's what girls and ladies do' (although he does love cooking) and I could see if he was a bit older having a book that says 'no, look, boys do this too' could be helpful. Genuine question by the way - is it always bad to segregate when it can be helpful to encourage boys or girls to try something new. Would a 'Girls guide to mechanics' inherently be bad if it actually encouraged girls to try something outside their comfort zone?

Disclaimer - I do know it's really about what sunshine said about sales...

But double hmmm cos all the top chefs types seem to be men.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Hmmm. Have just looked up the girls' one. It seems more adventurous. I suppose the message is that boys just need to know how to make a few basics because they don't really like cooking whilst girls do so will make more interesting and varied food.

We have the Usbourne Cookbook for Boys . It's never occured to me to think of it as sexist in any way double . It's quite good actually, lots of basics in there. I wonder if the girls' one is somehow different???

Even food has a gender now :(

They have a Cookbook for Boys too which apparently is "...a fantastic new no-nonsense, no-frills cookbook written with boys in mind.!" so I suppose the girl's one will be full of nonsense and frills

I was about to say, do boys not cook?

Pretty sure I had DS making fairy cakes with me over the weekend...

Presumably because they can then release one 'for boys' as well, to maximise sales. It's about money. The fact that they are encouraging stereotypes and segregation is, as far as they're concerned, an inconsequential side-effect.