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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wonder why women's studies aren't part of the curriculum?

48 replies

WhatchuTalkinBoutPhyllis · 20/01/2013 15:32

Was reading the barbie fanny story and it got me thinking.

OP posts:
E320 · 20/01/2013 15:34

What are women's studies? How to be a Stepford Wife or the opposite?

MrsLouisTheroux · 20/01/2013 15:36

Someone's having fun today! Feeling a bit lonely, frustrated and bored today OP?

HappyAsASandboy · 20/01/2013 15:36

Probably for the same reason 'men's studies' aren't part of the curriculum Hmm

kinkyfuckery · 20/01/2013 15:38

What's women's studies?

MrsLouisTheroux · 20/01/2013 15:39

Imagine 'men's studies'.

Jazzicatz · 20/01/2013 15:40

It used to be women's studies, then in the 1990's got changed to gender studies, and now even that's been cut and very few places run courses on it.

WhatchuTalkinBoutPhyllis · 20/01/2013 15:41

Do i have to spell it out Hmm

e ar...

f e m i n i s m

That better

OP posts:
FeistyLass · 20/01/2013 15:44

Possibly because every subject includes the contribution that women have made hence they don't need to ghetto-ise it into a subject of its own (which only some people would choose and hence would lessen its impact and importance).

Alisvolatpropiis · 20/01/2013 15:44

It gets covered in varying ways in both history and English courses. Particularly English in 6th forms. Or it was when I was attending one 6 years ago.

thegreylady · 20/01/2013 15:48

which curriculum?
Anything which separates women from men is sexist in the extreme, women dont need 'studies' as a separate thing,respect/equality etc comes from a social acceptance and accountability plus a good dollop of commonsense.
Militant feminism made women a laughing stock imho.

saladcreamwitheverything · 20/01/2013 15:49

Women's Studies!

I remember seeing that in my Uni prospectus in 1997. It was only 6 hours a week...presumably cos the rest of the week would be spent cleaning and ironing?

manicinsomniac · 20/01/2013 16:12

because it's a bit mickey-mousey?

Fakebook · 20/01/2013 16:13

Because its boring?

BoneyBackJefferson · 20/01/2013 16:16

Who would take it?
Who would teach it?
Where exactly would it fit?

TheFallenNinja · 20/01/2013 16:18

Because nobody would ever agree the content

andtheycalleditbunnylove · 20/01/2013 16:20

because we're sinking under the weight of the curriculum as it is?

grimbletart · 20/01/2013 16:22

Because learning to read, spell, do sums, history, geography, science etc. are what school is for.

All girls need to know is that they have the right to control their own lives and tell anyone else who says different to fuck off.

Sirzy · 20/01/2013 16:24

Why would anyone think teaching about just one sex was a good thing? Do we really want to encourage sexism?

manicbmc · 20/01/2013 16:24

Gender issues are already well covered in schools.

TunipTheVegedude · 20/01/2013 16:26

The posts on this thread are making me want to kill myself.

Bunbaker · 20/01/2013 16:28

Because the Russel Group universities would regard it as a "soft option" as it isn't an academic subject. Feminism is covered in history anyway. The suffragettes was my favourite topic in history.

scottishmummy · 20/01/2013 16:32

i dont think there such a topic as wimmins studies.is a socialsciencetastic construct
there is good and bad representation and content
good curriculum reflects the impact of men and women

Birdsgottafly · 20/01/2013 16:33

"Probably for the same reason 'men's studies' aren't part of the curriculum"

We don't need Men's studies, every history book details the achievements and ideas of "men".

It is only when you take a Women's Studies group, you realise how women have been cut out of history.

However, whilst i think that this subjects are excellent for raising female self esteem, to counter act the messages that come through the media around body image, i think that they should be confined to specific groups and not delivered in mixed schools, the audience has to be interested.

LaQueen · 20/01/2013 16:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Birdsgottafly · 20/01/2013 16:35

It isn't just the suffragettes, it is things like Beverage taking the credit for the Welfare State. Female doctors etc not being given the credit for what they achieve.