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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be glad I have 2 boys

171 replies

Lazaretto · 22/02/2015 21:56

The lack of respect towards girls in our society is getting worse. I can't believe sending pics of your breasts is now common place for teenage girls. These images are in the majority of cases expected and then shared amongst peers. How has it come to this? I wouldn't even know how to start protecting any daughters I had. Whereas, I think it's easier to instil respect in women in boys than in girls. Can't believe how much times have changed.

OP posts:
SunnyBaudelaire · 22/02/2015 21:58

no offence but there is no time for complacency, it is the boys that are demanding this stuff off girls.

ElsaLitcha · 22/02/2015 21:58

YABU. Who do you think encourages girls to send pictures?

MrsTawdry · 22/02/2015 21:59

YABU. And your attitude feeds the issue. It's no easier having boys. They have many similar issues around social media and the pressure on them regarding their physical appearance is growing fast. Do you think your boys will be immune to bullying on social media? Or grooming? No...of course not.

HolidayHunterTeam · 22/02/2015 22:00

Maybe we can teach daughters to respect themselves, as well as sons to respect girls. Rather than assume girls are a lost cause...

SunnyBaudelaire · 22/02/2015 22:00

oh was it an AIBU?
yes YABU and a bit silly

meglet · 22/02/2015 22:00

yabu. and rather naive.

kinkyfuckery · 22/02/2015 22:00

Like others have pointed out, is it the other girls who are 'expecting' and 'sharing' these pictures?

mommy2ash · 22/02/2015 22:01

this isnt a gender issue. boys face challenges growing up in this world just the same as girls

pictish · 22/02/2015 22:01

What holidayhunter said with bells on!

ScotsWhaHae · 22/02/2015 22:02

I'm happy with my boys, relieved that I won't have to deal with half the shit.

I.seen photos a friend posted of her 7 year old daughter's pamper party on Facebook at the weekend. I just felt so sad that these girls were getting plastered with make up and their hair changed to feel good, piling on the insecurities I've had all my days.

I know boys aren't immune from all that and it's my job to raise respectful, considerate, feminist boys. But I am relieved.

Annunziata · 22/02/2015 22:02

Don't be bloody daft.

Original poster
Lazaretto · 22/02/2015 22:03

Hang on... I think you misunderstood. I think it's easier to teach males to respect females than females to respect themselves.

OP posts:
SunnyBaudelaire · 22/02/2015 22:04

mommytoash is right, boys are also at greater sexual risk now than before.
I would not want to share too much but of my boy and girl it was my boy who got sexually exploited by 'friends',

MrsTawdry · 22/02/2015 22:04

Scots what do you mean "half the shit" just because your friend's child is given a pamper party it does not follow that girls are more difficult to bring up.

I wouldn't be relieved given the fact that boys are more at risk from violent crime, depression and drug abuse. Your attitude is awful.

Original poster
Lazaretto · 22/02/2015 22:04

Gosh...I'm not seeing girls as a lost cause. I think the issues around why girls feel peer pressure to these things are much more complicated and ingrained in society.

OP posts:
SunnyBaudelaire · 22/02/2015 22:04

I think you are wrong lazaretto, tbh many mums of boys are fooling themselves.

MrsTawdry · 22/02/2015 22:05

Lazaretto no...you've not been misunderstood at all. Your thread is goady as fuck.

But I will bite.

Boys are not easier to teach when it comes to respecting females unfortunately. Where did you get that information from?

ScotsWhaHae · 22/02/2015 22:06

Half the shit being a girl/woman entails.

Like I said, boys aren't immune from it, but having been a girl, and now a woman, I'm relieved that my children don't have to live that.

DrElizabethPlimpton · 22/02/2015 22:06

Oh dear. If this is for real OP you need to get your hard hat on.

You post at 22.03 is perhaps one of the most dreadful things I've read on MN in a long while.

Only1scoop · 22/02/2015 22:06

What an absolute pile of crap.

Yabu

MrsTawdry · 22/02/2015 22:06

Lazaretto do you think there are no damaging attitudes in society which boys have to deal with? If so...well...you need to wise up quickly and before your boys are older.

SunnyBaudelaire · 22/02/2015 22:07

just. what. the. fuck.?

Only1scoop · 22/02/2015 22:07

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

wigglesrock · 22/02/2015 22:08

Why do you think it's easier to instill respect for women into boys rather than girls? Do you not follow the news? I think calling you naive is actually being kind.

MrsTawdry · 22/02/2015 22:08

Scots Luckily for girls and women things have changed and are being changed as we speak. So you needn't feel any relief for your boys at all. ...and to suggest that the MOthers of girls have to deal with their girls "living with that" is shit in the extreme. It's incredibly patronising and stupid too...you have no idea what you're talking about re boys having it easy. You're feeding the myth.

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