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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Unhappy with school reading book

130 replies

Kinect · 08/10/2013 08:01

DD is in reception & has three reading books a week. We have a little book to fill in with a note of how DD reacted. Yesterday's book was, "a princess & a dragon'. Story went like this princess, dragon, roar, help, prince, prince saves princess, they are happy.

I have written in the notebook that it is against my feminist principles to read the story with DD.

I am very unhappy about material like this being in school.

Should I take this further with the school?
Or is my comment in the notebook sufficient.

OP posts:
SavoyCabbage · 08/10/2013 08:27

Just counteract it with your own information and stories. Some princesses will need to be rescued some will not. Not every story can encompass every scenario every time.

kilmuir · 08/10/2013 08:21

But its a story, made up, blah blah. Get a bloody grip. Tell her that women do not have to be rescued by a male, but in this story she is. Maybe the prince is homosexual,?

Pooka · 08/10/2013 08:19

I'm fascinated by the idea that you will monitor books and prevent reading them on the basis of their feminist credentials.

Going with what beansmum has said, you've missed the opportunity for a feminist critique and to educate your dd. if I had a fundamental issue with an early reader, we'd read it and then I'd explain issues. Bit like every time I read angelina ballerina (because dd loved them) I'd have a commentary about the ways in which angelina was being a pain in the arse. Ditto with my naughty little sister.

beansmum · 08/10/2013 08:13

I don't know - I would have read it, and talked to dd about it, and maybe followed it with The Paperbag Princess. Then I would have spoken to the class teacher (assuming they're at all approachable) and told them that I wasn't happy. I'm not sure I'd take it any further than that. Which doesn't answer your actual question...

Pooka · 08/10/2013 08:09

I'm sure your comment will be sufficient.