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Original poster

This is wrong isn't it? Help me articulate why.

36 replies

MoominMammasHandbag · 17/01/2014 22:43

In my youngest child's school, they spend Friday afternoons on a creative or sporting activity of their choice. The choices this term are football, sewing, Lego modelling, plasticine, film criticing or.......pampering. They are apparently going to do stuff like hair and nail and maybe invite the mums in and do nails for charity.

I have had a big rant to my teenage daughters about how ridiculous and devaluing it is for little girls (and it is all girls who have chosen it) to be doing stuff like this at school. One daughter agrees with me, the other has gone all post feminist and reckons it's nice for there to be a choice that the little girls will love and I shouldn't be dismissing it because it is a "girly" activity.

I am ready to fire off a letter to the Head. DD and DH reckon I will be the laughing stock of the staff room. What do you al think?

OP posts:
Original poster
MoominMammasHandbag · 17/01/2014 23:09

Yes, if they were teens it would be a smidge more acceptable maybe, but these are little girls

OP posts:
ashtrayheart · 17/01/2014 23:08

My 4 yo would love that!

GoshAnneGorilla · 17/01/2014 23:04

I do feel uneasy at the way some activities coded as feminine are undervalued compared to supposedly masculine hobbies, but I do think you have a point here. Craft activities or cooking would be far more valuable.

scallopsrgreat · 17/01/2014 23:02

Ahh right. For some reason I thought it was teenagers. Should have known with Lego though!

So at primary age they are being taught they need to worry about hair and nails. These messages aren't being sent to boys. I think that is the clear message it is sending that girls need to be concerned with personal grooming from such an early age.

And people say women choose to wear make-up and shave their legs etc. No societal influence At. all. Hmm

midgeymum2 · 17/01/2014 23:01

Uugh - why why why? Pampering?! Good grief. If is was learning about healthy lifestyles to enable children of either gender to make good choices about looking after their bodies and minds then yes I could see a valid reason for this to be included in a school day but pampering - seriously? Even the word 'pampering' sounds superficial; what are children learning from this? It's so passive. I can't see the value in this at all and would be very angry if my odds school thought that this was a useful way for her to spend her time. I don't think there is anything positive for small girls to learn from a pampering session. If I were you I would be writing to the school too.

Original poster
MoominMammasHandbag · 17/01/2014 22:57

Yes KS2.

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scallopsrgreat · 17/01/2014 22:56

I mean about girls choosing football is good. You DS choosing Lego is also understandable. That would be my choice!

scallopsrgreat · 17/01/2014 22:56

Oh that's good to hear Moomin. Is this primary school age?

Original poster
MoominMammasHandbag · 17/01/2014 22:54

I have suggested to DS that he choose it simply to set the cat amongst the pigeons. He will not be disuaded from Lego though.

OP posts:
Original poster
MoominMammasHandbag · 17/01/2014 22:51

Quite a few of the girls do chose football, and in past terms they have had physical stuff like dance or Zumba that appeals more to the girls than the boys.

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scallopsrgreat · 17/01/2014 22:49

So the only sporting activity was a predominantly male sport Hmm

And there are several shades of wrong about pampering. Dear god!

OK it teaches girls that they are valued for their looks. It also teaches them that being active and exercising and being a girl don't co-exist. Presumably they won't be doing the boys nails and hair? Thought not. Gender stereotyping.

That just off the top of my head.