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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to be annoyed by 'Little' Miss

115 replies

bumpertobumper · 26/03/2014 22:47

my sons are currently very keen on Mr Men books for bedtime stories. It really annoys me that the female characters are 'little... '. Why can't she just be Miss naughty or Miss Sunshine etc.
I feel it's part of the insidious undermining and belittling (literally!) of women.
So I leave out the little when reading, but DP doesn't and DS1 is in yr1 so can see for himself the girls are all little.
Angry

OP posts:
FutTheShuckUp · 26/03/2014 22:48

Here I have a spare for you in my spare grips draw...

thebody · 26/03/2014 22:48

you might be overthinking it? Grin

have a Wine

WooWooOwl · 26/03/2014 22:49

YANBU if you assume the word little to be negative or derogatory somehow.

That's isn't my perception of it though, so I can't see the problem.

Flossyfloof · 26/03/2014 22:49
Biscuit
icclemunchy · 26/03/2014 22:49

I wish I had time to overthink things this much and then actually get annoyed about them!!

VashtaNerada · 26/03/2014 22:54

YANBU, it's these constant sexist messages (minor in isolation but damaging en masse) that cause children to grow up thinking girls are less important.

shakinstevenslovechild · 26/03/2014 22:56

What do you suggest they are called Miss Lady, Miss Woman, Miss Girl? They can't just call them Miss and someone, somewhere will always be offended.

If you want to take that much of a stance then stop reading/buying the books.

AwfulMaureen · 26/03/2014 22:57

YANBU. You're right but those books are a thing of the past. Don't buy them...they're overrated anyway.

FutTheShuckUp · 26/03/2014 22:57

When I was growing up (showing my age now) there was a programme called the little green man. Pity mn wasn't around then so my mother could have pissed herself laughing at someone with too much time on their hands starting a thread worrying how it demasculises men....

BeyonceB · 26/03/2014 23:01

YANBU. But then, even Miss isn't on the same level as Mister when you think about it. Mr Men should be Master Men, and Little Miss should just be Miss Smile

thebody · 26/03/2014 23:01

to be fair the dad in peppa pig is a twat.

MsMischief · 26/03/2014 23:03

It annoys me too

GiveTwoSheets · 26/03/2014 23:03

Looks at her collection of little miss books had for 17years its only a matter before some pc arse gets them banned.

LucyBabs · 26/03/2014 23:07

Mr Men books as a whole are un PC but my dc LOVE them! Hilarious Grin

BrunoBrookesDinedAlone · 26/03/2014 23:08

They should just be 'Woman'.

Sunshine Woman

Tiny Woman

Plump Woman

Scatterbrain Woman

Late Woman (!)

NAUGHTY WOMAN.

LindyHemming · 26/03/2014 23:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TeaOneSugar · 26/03/2014 23:13

Mr forgetful is a much underrated classic IMO, very funny.

ThisLittlePiggyStayedHome · 26/03/2014 23:20

You are absolutely right, OP, and those who would belittle your concerns about the insidious belittling of women and girls in this culture (and in many others), are a big part of the problem.

It's so, so foolish to think that these things don't matter. Instead of trying to hand you a grip, some on here should have another rummage around and try to find themselves a clue.

Alisvolatpropiis · 26/03/2014 23:25
Hmm
LatinForTelly · 26/03/2014 23:30

YANBU, OP

what ThisLittlePiggy said

stonehairbrush · 26/03/2014 23:33

Yep what piggy said.

stonehairbrush · 26/03/2014 23:34

Fut, thebody, iccle etc - you are part of the problem.

StabInTheDark · 26/03/2014 23:35

Yes, if you look at this one thing on its own, it doesn't seem like a massive deal. But actually, they are one part of a whole culture that is full to the brim of these 'little things' that 'don't matter.' They all add up and collectively form a society where women are constantly undermined.

If the male versions are 'Mr Bump', why can't the female versions simply be 'Miss Helpful' etc? What's the difference?

I really believe that if we don't challenge these 'little things' we are allowing for a pervasive message to seep through. Not really something I'd want my children to subliminally pick up on!

whereisshe · 26/03/2014 23:35

YANBU. Have you seen the doco Miss Representation? A very interesting (and depressing for those of us with daughters) look at how early and how comprehensively little girls are taught to limit their ambition.

WilsonFrickett · 26/03/2014 23:38

YANBU. But the books are all terrible and really hard to read aloud, thankfully DS was never that into them...