Teen DD angry about sexism

https://www.amnesty.org.uk/giving/join/youth she could join this in a year's time

And she can take them to task on their ridiculous policy that being entitled to have sex is a basic human so buying it is fine.

you sound like an amazing mum! remember beating the patriarchy comes in tiny steps and stopping everyday sexism and rape culture is one of them! Keep going because you sound awesome!

Wow, Purdeybirdie.

My seven year old is always finding examples of sexism (and racism, and classism) and getting cross about it. She finds it in books, on TV, in magazines. She wants to know why her sex is often depicted as weaker or sillier, for example.

I imagine by the time she is 13 she will have an opinion on things like 50 Shades. Why can't she? I had political opinions at that age.

HouseWhereNobodyLives Mon 16-Feb-15 14:01:54
"Purdey - you don't need to know about bdsm to criticise the book. It may depict bdsm, but it also depicts abuse and rape."

I've seen snippets of 50SOG. Looks like a steaming pile.

But where is abuse and rape depicted? All I've seen is excruciating dialogue and... contract negotiations.

Am open-mouthed at purdeybirdie - thinking of all the articulate, thoughtful girls I teach and trying to imagine telling them that they shouldn't be expressing opinions on feminism yet Fortunately they'd laugh at you just as incredulously as I am and then get back to discussing the dysfunctional dynamics of Bella and Edward's relationship in Twilight.

Wow. I think 13 years is when feminism, sex and the patriarchy are the most relevant to your life.

It's a time when you look around (at least I did) see the soft porn and the excuses and ask yourself why.

Well done to your DD for seeing it like it is.

Thanks for recommending Jump! Mag, Pilchard and Petula.

Of course girls (and boys!) can recognise sexism and patriarchy. My son is still indignant about a tshirt he saw when he was 9yrs old that said 'Anything girls can do, boys can do better'.

Aradia
If your DD would like to write for Jump! Mag, get in touch. We also have a YouTube channel, which she might enjoy. We have a couple of young 'Jump! Journos' who have done reports on on various subjects, and are looking to do more of these.

There are a few great campaigns at the moment, led by young activists, who might inspire her.

Oh it's much better to spout sexist claptrap at kids than feminist claptrap.

Everyone knows that.

That was my DD at 13 too!
She's now a young woman to be very proud of. Involved in Femsoc at uni, organising Ferguson solidarity vigil, Int Women's Day events, going to a Feminists Conference, getting riled at random anti-Semitism expressed by someone purporting to be anti-racist, and doing well in her course.

Well done OP!

Your DD sounds fabulous Aradia, hopefully she'll turn out to be a firebrand like my DD2 who regularly rants against patriarchy and ingrained sexism.

www.amnesty.org.uk/giving/join/youth she could join this in a year's time.

How about getting involved with TYFA (Twitter Feminist Youth Army)

twitter.com/_TYFA

They have been campaigning for changes in sex education to include more discussion on consent. Other issues as well of course.

IIRC, I read twelfth night at 13 in school and thought that the duke was an abusive git to both Viola and Olivia.

So if a 13 year old can formulate that opinion about Shakespeare, I'm sure an eloquent, well informed teenager of a similar age can come up with a decent opinion on E L James.

My dd is a similar age and is the same. I speak to her about porn, consent and relationships etc. She joined an app club at school and when asked to design an app, decided she would design one that helped women identify companies that pay women the same amount as men so that they could choose a company that pays them properly.

She recognises sexism all over the place and does a typically male sport, she is absolutely kick ass at it and plays at a very high level and I am just so proud of her.

I discuss it with dd all the time and she is starting to channel herself towards standing up for people or situations which are not fair and question things, I think thats a good start.

I think you sound like a great Mum

In terms of practical things she can do, to channel her feelings, what about raising money (by the usual teen fundraiser methods) for a women's charity, either an international one like Plan or a local refuge or similar. She can also sign and share any relevant online petitions on social media. I also like to put san pro in the food bank collection when possible.

That's the very one. It looks fab, and they link to blogs written by readers.

And YY to anyone who thinks that a 13yr old girl hasn't experienced sexism all of her very own and might like to articulate how they feel about it. I'd be really interested to read what Aradia's DD has to say about it all.

X-post!

Do you mean jump mag puffins?

jump mag might be what you're thinking of puffins.

I'm aghast at the idea that a 13yo girl in the UK won't have experienced any sexism first hand.

Maybe refer to the survey/research carried out by Girl Guiding here

For fucks sake! How amazing would it be if 13yo in the UK didn't get this shit! And for someone to wander into a thread any DENY that 13yo girls in the UK experience anything because of their sex. Look at the article, then maybe have a little think about Rotherham and Rochdale you utter utter twat.

I despair at these mothers who spout their feminist claptrap at their kids and then tell the rest of us we should sit up and listen because, you know...'she's so wise; so compassionate.'

DS thought this was HILARIOUS. No, really, hilarious. He's a tad incredulous that he knows more about feminism than you do though purdey

IIRC, there was/is a young woman's/girl's magazine with a feminist theme.. can anyone remember what it was called? She could maybe try writing for that? Or a blog for young feminists?

"I despair at these mothers who spout their feminist claptrap at their kids" OKaaay! Well the mothers (generally) aren't 13. Have they not felt the effects of the patriarchy? Or are we just making it up and really women being subjected to sexual violence and physical violence by men is all in our heads?

"mummy shouts about at home" Yeah we all shout this stuff all the time at our children. Personally, I work on the premise that the louder I speak the more chance they will listen, take it in and respect me and my views. I find about an hour a day of loud ranting is optimum. It shows dividends in the workplace too. My colleagues really enjoy lunch hours in the tea room, with me. Although I work in an open plan office so I can reach a greater audience throughout the day. Do people really think we are this stupid?

Aradia's DD clearly knows more about feminism than you do purdey.

I'd say about 13 was when I and my peers became an object rather than a human being, valued only on our appearance and what a good shag we'd apparently be, and fair game to have rape threats made towards us 'as a joke'.

If we're old enough to be oppressed, we're bloody well old enough to have an opinion on it, and to do something about it. purdey your posts are ridiculous!