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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

in objecting to this obvious sexism

185 replies

bibiane · 01/05/2011 14:35

I have been surfing the net in search of fishing trips to Puffin Island,Anglesey when I came across www. starida.co.uk which advertised fishing trips to the island. When I clicked on the Prices link I read this little gem - ' a family trip ideal for even MUM' ? Duh! To whose Mum they are referring I can't imagine. A victorian heroine of a gothic novel who swoons whenever she sets one dainty foot on a sea vessel perhaps?

My 11 yr old daughter took umbridge to this straight away and wanted to contact the company. I think an email to the North Wales Tourist Board is in order.
Is sexism alive and kicking in Wales?

OP posts:

Robins · 01/05/2011 16:50

Or better still, just book yourselves on a fishing trip if that is what you want to do and have fun! Who's stopping you?

nijinsky · 01/05/2011 16:57

Why do people think some forms of discrimination are less worthy than others?

Replace "mum" with "black" and it reads " a family trip ideal for even black people". Or any other ethnic minority.

Its patronising and more importantly, its indirect discrimination under s.1(1)(b) of the 1975 Act, as in the Price v. Civil Service case.

Indirect discrimination is more subtle than overt or "direct" discrimination but is equally legislated for.

The wording suggests that it is unusual for females to enjoy fishing, and that any women who do so might only do so in a supporting role as part of a family including their children.

(its also cringeoworthy, old fashioned and did I say patronising?)

Robins · 01/05/2011 17:00

Doesn't suggest that to me.

follyfoot · 01/05/2011 17:00

I was listening to Radio 5 yesterday and that idiot Colin Murray was hosting a morning programme. He was frothing at the mouth talking about Pippa Middleton's 'derriere' to use his precise word. You can tell he used to be on Radio 1, which is a bastion of sexism/innuendo.

lubberlich · 01/05/2011 17:00

Sardine Queen - if you read my post you can see that I said "she can do as she pleases". I have not suggested that she should be prevented from pursuing something she feels passionate about.

As a parent I would ask my daughter what exactly she is complaining about and what she wishes to achieve by complaining? Does she want an apology? Does she want the copy of their brochure changed? Does she want a free boat trip?
Why is asking a child to calm down, hone their argument, target their wants and enact them precisely a bad thing? Why is using this issue as a springboard to explore other more prescient issues of sexism a bad thing?

carabos · 01/05/2011 17:03

Bibiane - probably a waste of time encouraging your DD to complain but she might enjoy the story of Grace Darling which will prove to her how much women have always been able to do at sea.

Robins · 01/05/2011 17:03

Most of you are full of over the top, humourless, joyless, feminine claptrap, think I will come off here! Can't bear it!

youmeatsix · 01/05/2011 17:05

"The wording suggests that it is unusual for females to enjoy fishing"

it IS unsual for women to enjoy fishing
i have been part of the UK fishing circuit for over 20 years, it is most definately a male dominated sport
and it doesnt say black, it says mum
i still think its a grabbing advertising ploy to get families interested and pointing out that mums will enjoy it and be made welcomed

SybilBeddows · 01/05/2011 17:06

something tells me that Bibiane's dd isn't going to be put off by these comments, if she reads them.
she's probably going to sit down and write a letter to David Cameron as soon as she's finished the fishing one

HarrietSchulenberg · 01/05/2011 17:10

It is sexism although I know plenty of women who are happy to be seen in this kind of light. "Send the boys on a fishing trip so us girls can stay at home sipping chardonnay, eating chocolate and flicking through each others Heat mags".

It IS sexism. Not to challenge it is to be complicit. Which perpetuates the stereotype.

flippinada · 01/05/2011 17:11

ROFL at 'feminine' claptrap.

bibiane - I think it is refreshing that a young person is aware and interested in this sort of thing. Good on your daughter. I'm sure they won't tell her to get a life.

On this subject, I took my son to Deep Sea World on Saturday - they advertised ' anyone dressed up as a princess gets in for free'. I thought that was a bit off. What about little boys?

lubberlich · 01/05/2011 17:13

Alright then HarrietSchulenberg - you challenge it - website address is in original OP post - get together some sistas to really let them have it eh?
If you don't you tackle this wickedness then YOU will be complicit won't you?

I have never heard such poop.

SardineQueen · 01/05/2011 17:19

Lubber so you do in fact approve of the OPs daughter writing her letter? Your posts were coming across differently. Good for you too then.

Although then you say it is poop?

I am getting mixed messages from you

flippinada · 01/05/2011 17:19

Yep, it's important women get the message at an early age that their opinions don't matter.

nijinsky · 01/05/2011 17:21

OP - I suggest your daughter complains to both the company and the tourist board that it is indirect discrimination under s 1910(b) - the 1975 Act covers discrimination in relation to goods and services including advertising. The Tourist Board will be in receipt of various grants and public funding and duty bound to abide by all anti-discrimination legislation.

It is irrelevant whether more men than women enjoy fishing in this context, other than rendering such a claim an example of indirect discrimination in the context of advertising.

In actual fact, the arguement that more men than women enjoy it so its all right to reinforced stereotypes is a load of poop. Most sports attract more men than women anyway. I run, for example, one of the most innocuous sports imaginable. There are far more male competitive runners than female, yet I don't see many running races advertised as "Even Mum can come along and enjoy it" kind of thing. That sort of claim in advertising probably has a lot to do with low participation of women in fishing.

nijinsky · 01/05/2011 17:22

Sorry that should read under s 1(1)(b).

SybilBeddows · 01/05/2011 17:22

I think Lubberlich has in fact spearheaded an anti-David Cameron's sexism letter-writing campaign which is why she's understandably frustrated that people are focusing on other issues when she feels this one is the most pressing.
because no-one would come and lecture people about the best way to fight sexism if they weren't actively involved in doing it themselves, would they?

edam · 01/05/2011 17:22

Blimey. Why are the people who aren't bothered about the ad so keen to stop an 11yo who is from doing something about it?

Very strange that those who claim to think it's a fuss about nothing are the ones making such a fuss on this thread.

SardineQueen · 01/05/2011 17:24

sybil

SardineQueen · 01/05/2011 17:27

edam they are worried that the girl may in later life neglect to shave her legs, and thus will never snare a man, and are trying to spare her from that fate.

It is a slippery slope. Today, email to the welsh tourist board. Tomorrow, Agitating for equal pay while wearing flat shoes. It must ne nipped in the bud.

rainbowinthesky · 01/05/2011 17:27

Good for your daughter. Whilst we are on teh topic can I just say how fed up I am of the sexism on mumsnet. I have read so many posts where the assumption is women do the "womenly" jobs and then men, well are excused because they are men - add a lol at teh end cos apparently this is funny.

SardineQueen · 01/05/2011 17:28

Have you found the feminism section rainbow?

It is a warm and cosy place where we sit around plaiting our armpit hair and expecting our men to actually like their own children [gasp]

ilovemydogandMrObama · 01/05/2011 17:29

How difficult would it be to word an ad that isn't sexist

What about: ' a boat/fishing trip that all the family would enjoy...'

edam · 01/05/2011 17:33

Sardine

SybilBeddows · 01/05/2011 17:33

SardineQueen is joking about the armpit hair.
Just saying, for the benefit of lurkers.

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