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Original poster

primary school / hidden curriculum

36 replies

madwomanacrosstheroad · 27/02/2013 12:52

My daughter is seven and has just brought a note home that they are all to dress up as a super heroe in a couple of days. I have vague memories of wonder woman years or rather decades ago. There is cat woman (more sex symbol than super heroe) ... but as far as i remember thats about it. I have tried to convince her that pippi longstocking falls into the category but she is not having it. She has not been at the school long, before that i had after long discussions about the hidden curriculum with my dh insisted on single sex schools for the girls.
I am getting the impression that things are moving backward. Do i really have to send her into school dressed as a male superheroe and give her the message that women are just not good enough? I am absolutely furious.
Has anyone any ideas?

OP posts:
Bue · 27/02/2013 13:21

Extensive list here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_superheroines

Must admit this is not a theme that would have remotely interested me as a girl, but there isn't really a dearth of female options if you look for them. I can't think of many obvious male ones either! (And if she wants to go as one of the standard male ones surely that's fine?)

piprabbit · 27/02/2013 13:16

Ask to imagine what pwers she would have if she was a superhero. What would be her superhero name? Can she design a costume which you could help her to make in RL that she could wear on the day.

I think it would be fab if your DD rolled into school saying "I am Madam Mumsnet - behold my awesome pants of judgement" (or whatever she comes up with).

Littlefish · 27/02/2013 13:08

Make up your own superhero. Is there anything in the letter from school that says it has to be a published/televised one?

whistleahappytune · 27/02/2013 13:08

Xena Warrior Princess
Buffy Vampire Slayer

Incredible role models. I only wish I'd grown up with them, rather than watched as an adult.

However, I'm not sure you need to worry about the dearth of female superheroes. Girls just co-opt the hero they love and I'm not sure that they actually "read" it as gendered (if you know what I mean). Growing up, for me it was Robin Hood or D'artagnan (anything with a sword - please no penis envy jokes). It never occurred to me that these characters were off-limits because they were male, and it never occurred to me to want to play Maid Marion (boring!).

ChunkyPickle · 27/02/2013 13:06

There's a fair few female X-Men, or the invisible girl in the fantastic 4 which were recent films/cartoons

The iconic ones do tend to be male though, with the females there for looking at and being rescued..

Original poster
madwomanacrosstheroad · 27/02/2013 13:03

She looked at me and said her and her friends will probably just go in in their school uniform. I am pissed off that they cant think about something a bit more inclusive.

OP posts:
wonkylegs · 27/02/2013 13:03

There are female superheroes
Your daughter might not be as familiar with them but what about the Incredibles - Elastigirl & her daughter Violet.
Or check out here
www.superherodb.com/characters.php?gender=female

Original poster
madwomanacrosstheroad · 27/02/2013 13:01

Yes but none of them have been round recently. So dd will not recognize them as super heroes. Just remembered supergirl, but again she is thrre in relation to a male and pretty old.

OP posts:
AMumInScotland · 27/02/2013 13:01

What does your daughter want to do? Can she think of any super-heroes (male or female) that she would like to dress up as?

msrisotto · 27/02/2013 12:53

Power puff girls?

msrisotto · 27/02/2013 12:53

Is She Ra even around any more?