To not want my daughters' primary school to run a Nail Club (fingernail painting)?

[Bodkin]

It's one of the official after-school clubs. All the girls want to go. It's so popular they've had to limit it to years 5 & 6.

I've nothing against nail varnish, just think it's not a suitable primary school club and the time could be better used.

Bullshit that feminism is about choice.

It's not a choice if you a punished overtly or covertly for not making the choice. It's not choice if you are expected to behave in a certain way because you are male or female or Chinese or whatever.

lemon drizzle feminism

evergreentrees

Of course it's our views that are making it an issue. The same is true of 'sweets-for-dinner' - our kids would have no problem with that. It's us as parents that object to it.

YANBU, it's unsuitable. A school-related club should be offering something far more useful and age-appropriate.

Also, if it's so popular that all the girls want to do it, I think that implies a certain amount of peer-pressure...

Too many sweets is unhealthy, having painted nails is not.

So she can go and buy it herself, she can do certain "glittery" activities and that's ok.

It makes no sense to me.

It's a complete non issue and by insisting on a blanket ban on this activity you are projecting your issues onto your dd

Thanks for all the responses, both against and in favour.

Just to make it clear, I wasn't suggesting the club be cancelled, just adapted to make it more inclusive for boys and more worthwhile. I have nothing against nail painting, but don't think it is a school activity.

Maybe they just really want to do it. All small girls I know want painted nails.

It's not choice if you are expected to behave in a certain way because you are male or female or Chinese or whatever.

I have no idea how that is relevant to this discussion, I was talking about personal choice.

evergreentrees

"Too many sweets is unhealthy, having painted nails is not."

I'm not sure I agree. I think it depends how the club is run.

If it gives them an image of themselves which limits their future prospects (a kind of view that girls can't be engineers or politicians or scientists or businesspeople because that's not girly and girls should only do girly things) then I think that is bad for them.

If the club is just fun and glitter then OK, but I want my toes painted when she gets home.

stuart my 13 yo DS is a footballer, he plays for a premier league academy.

All around him in the media are premier league footballers behaving in a totally vile way.
There is casual sex, racism, violence, even rape allegations.
I don't believe this is telling my DS that this is acceptable any more than I believe a nail painting club and Claire's accessories is making my dd think she has to wear make up to be accepted

All small children I know want sweets; that doesn't mean they should get them.

YourFanjoIsNotAHandbag

You make a good point. I think there's a lot of media coverage around football that is very unhealthy for boys. Premier-league footballers are role models and I think it's utterly fucked-up that they behave the way they do.

Sweets rot your teeth, are not good for your health, but once in a while they are fun and good to have.
Everything in moderation.

Seem to remember getting by perfectly well without a nail-painting club at that age!

YourFanjoIsNotAHandbag NB love the username!

But we don't ban football club.
Almost every school has a football club.
There are children's football leagues everywhere
There is football on tv every week.

But clearly a nail painting club is much worse.

Who's talking bans? Not me.

Girls do football at school as part of P.E. though, don't they?

Fanjo We all project our issues onto our children. I am not here to judge others but do what I think is right for our DC. The OP was asking if this is a suitable activity to be offered. I answered based on this (not something i would let DD do but I wouldn't oppose it being offered as an activity). If you would happy for your DD to take part in nail painting as an afterschool activity then good for you.

Celia, my point is that it's not actually a personal choice if you are expected to behave in a certain way. Women are expected to wear make up, remove body hair and be groomed. You can say that it's your personal choice to do these things but the pressure to do them makes not doing them difficult.

Sadly they didn't offer it as an after school club when my dd was 10

But I personally don't like girls boxing- but she has been doing it since the age of 10

... and presumably can join in girls or mixed football teams?

That's it - first nail session is how to paint your toenails with football designs :o

PacketOfBiscuits :)

Can the girls paint "I love science" on their fingernails? I'd be good with that.