Texts taught in school and sexism

I see your problem.

I know that when I read OMAM at school that wasn't the message I got from it, a good teacher was able to put the text into the context of the time it was written, she even got the less academic members of my class talking about how things had changed, so it is possible. And I do find it a bit lazy to just avoid it.

I do think it is more important to talk about books like OMAM which don't make it clear that the language is wrong, because the kids will spend much of their lives being bombarded with negative and harmful stereotypes which also won't be treated as wrong, and we need to give them the tools to see it for themselves without the text telling them what they should think. Much as TKAM is a fantastic book, what we really want is for kids to read it and know the racism is wrong without needing Atticus and Scout to point it out.

Less pressure to look amazing - to show a lot of flesh if you're female, spend a lot of time on personal grooming, be muscular and smooth if you're a man.

Less pressure to achieve in all areas of life.

An unrealistically high expectation on men to have a stiff upper-lip.

Less pressure to be a perfect parent; to provide extra-curricular activities for our children, to be endlessly patient, to label them and measure them.

I think that different times and cultures usually have advantages that we don't realise in a similar way to new technology enabling things but also taking things away from us or generating an expectation that we do/have X/Y/Z

I have PH on my bookshelf waiting to read.

Like you choco I perhaps will now give it a go,thanks to this thread.

"OMAM's is implicit rather than explicit and therefore (I think) more damaging"

IMO the ones with implicit rather than explicit sexism are actually the best ones to start discussions about, getting the kids aware of the subtle ways it can be made to seem acceptable.

Surely you are severely limiting them by refusing to teach them any books which have outdated gender roles and sexist language? Why not teach the books and use them to talk about changes in the way society views the sexes?

choco, how was the culture Steinbeck was writing about better? Seriously, tell me how.

I would add that I think even for their time, Enid Blyton books are awash with sexism and racism.

I'd compare them for example with the Swallows and Amazons series (and the horror of Nancy and Peggy being forced into pretty dresses to play the piano), or Little House in the Big Woods (yes, racism against the Indians from Ma, but Pa puts the contrary view and points out that they have had their land stolen).

Having said that, I never stopped dd reading them, just pointed out the general awfulness (including really awful sibling bullying in the Secret Seven) and provided lots of better books!

Sunlight, The Taming of The Shrew is the very embodiment of sexist.

Oh yes - TKAM was the only novel written by thingie Harper? You've inspired me to read RPF and PH FWIW. That's lovely to hear.

(Don't know how your pupils are doing, but I'm learning something from your thread) [narcissistic emoticon]

I'm a student teacher who has just finished looking at OMAM with my mid/low year 11 set (all girls, majority from ethnic minorities). Sexism and Racism were casual in the 1930s. My students were outraged and appalled at just how casual it was back then. Several of them made comments to the effect that studying this novel brought that fact home to them in a way that history lessons never had (no offence history teachers, just reporting!).

I don't think OMAM communicates a message that the sexism and racism is OK at all. I think it's used to show that all of the characters (except perhaps 'god-like' Slim) are flawed. These flaws are part of the reason none of their dreams can be realised. My students thought less of George/realised the plot/characters was not as back and white as it may first seem due to his sexist comments.

Knowledge of context is a huge part of the exam for this text, it's built into the Assessment Objectives.

I don't mean that racism or sexism are/were ever okay. Able to be explained because of ignorance or the prevailing culture at the time though.

Rather, the culture of OMAM was different from today's. Poorer because of the racism and sexism, but better in other ways.

But that's probably more for a history or philosophy class. I see you what you mean about having to use time in your class talking about things that aren't strictly to do with literature.

Perhaps you could study some literature written by women. Jane Austen was the only female author we studied at school.

I will make a point of reading it now sunlight so I can discuss it with them as necessary,so thank you!

OP are you going to chuck Shakespeare on the bonfire too? FFS ANY historical literature contains outdated ideas...you can't just ignore the books!

DDs class did an essay about the racism and sexism. They talked about men's attitudes compared to know and mentioned the feminist movement.

I'd do something like that as it can inspire a generation to speak up for what they believe and if they don't like it do something!!

She's in yr10 btw.

I have to say, I think it might be an enormous struggle to point out what was better in OMAM (I know you said you don't remember it in detail, so not having a go, just saying).