"The Mummies on the Bus go chatter, chatter chatter" Really?

[BespokeStereophonicVinyl]

So, I attend a regular nursery rhyme session at my local library and 'The Wheels on the Bus' now seems to comprise the above delight, together with the equally offensive "The Daddies on the bus go shush, shush, shush"

I'm really bristling at this example of everyday sexism. Yes, I am a mother, but I am also educated to Post Grad level and have a bunch of fairly heavyweight professional qualifications too. Prior to having DD, I held a senior position in a very male dominated field and really resent the implication that when a woman (who may or may not have children) speaks, it should be assumed that it is mere 'chatter'. I'm also really unhappy with the idea that a big manly man has to step in to shut up all these hysterically chattering women, otherwise where would the world be, eh?

AIBU to take this up with the library/council? I just don't want DD to face the same constant battle that I did, to be taken seriously in life just because she's a woman. I think we owe it to the next generation to challenge this trivialisation of women's opinions.

Threads like these are the reason no one takes feminists seriously.

I agree about picking your battles but I think this one is well worth picking!

Hate the constant stereotyping and naughty boy/mummy-as-carer references in nursery rhymes. They are the first things our children learn from, why would I want my child to have this as a starting point?

I change all the lyrics to nursery rhymes - with wheels on bus the mummies and daddies both go cuddle cuddle cuddle or kiss kiss kiss. Our monkeys on the bed are a mix of boys and girls and sometimes it's Daddy who calls the doctor. Miss Polly also has a woman doctor in our house. The owl in the Gruffalo is female too. I don't care at all if people think it's silly!

You rebel you APotter.

Do you think other families don't tailor nursery rhymes and childrens songs to their own families and personal criteria?

Crikey op - if this is all you've got to worry about I actually feel a bit sorry for you.

yabu.

At what point did anyone say this is "all they have to worry about"?

The version we sing at play group at the end goes "the babies on the bus all go to sleep" I fucking wish.

If I was worrying about this and lots of other things I would cross this one off the list.

Need I totally agree. This thread is bonkers, although I can't bring myself to read it all the way through.

Round here, I don't think there any mummies or daddies on the bus, just children who make "TOO MUCH NOISE".

Unaccompanied children on the bus? That could be a whole new thread

I'd be more upset about this verse

"Threads like these are the reason why no one takes feminists seriously"

Are you not a feminist NeedACleverNN?
If not I wonder why ever not?

I think you should write a strongly worded letter to The Guardian.

I think you need to include 'Polly put the Kettle On'.

Hey - we could make a list.

It's not all they have to worry about

I'm sure the Op has lots to worry about. However! Wheels on the bus shouldn't be one of them.....although clearly it is, because she's started a thread about it.

Very odd.

Juggling yeah yeah yeah. We're all feminists. But we just don't agree to squashing the chatty mummies on the bus.

Well I have a daughter and I believe she will achieve just as much as her brother. Equal rights, the lot.
I also respect the choices she makes herself be it a pink frilly tutu or Thomas the tank engine onesie.

I do not go round trying to find non existing sexist issues

captaincake I'm not sure I believe that's a true event.

Plus my younger two wouldn't have shut up if they heard that when younger I wouldn't have been able to leave the house.

"We're all feminists"

Well, that's the most encouraging thing I've read in years.................

Neither do I ThroughThickAndThin because like several other posters I've considered the AIBU and decided on balance that I don't think it is sexist, though maybe the Daddies could do something more constructive than tell everyone to be quiet - they read the paper in my version

Glad I've said the right thing for once Bertrand . I don't normally as far as you're concerned.

Absolutely not being unreasonable. When I first heard this I was very annoyed. How to reduce someone who's on maternity leave and may already be suffering a bit of a crisis of identity to being a mere chatterer. Dads fall asleep in the one I've heard which again is a horrible assumption about the uselessness of men.

Yes it's just a song, no-one going to die but every little thing like this adds up to informing children's - and adults - view of the different sexes and it's not a great one.

Threads like these are the reason no one takes feminists seriously
You're right I dont.

At what point did anyone say this is "all they have to worry about

Eh, she started a thread about it so I'm assuming it's really playing on her mind?
Apologies if I've missed the other 20 threads she's started today about other worries.

Cornish what's wrong with being a 'mere chatterer'? I have a proper job and all that shit but I still enjoy a good old chatter. Is there something wrong with people who enjoying chattering? Are we somehow inferior? Maybe I'm less of a woman because of it?

The real purpose of the rhyme is to teach children speech and language skills. It doesn't matter who does the chattering or the wah-ing or the shhh-ing so long as someone does and there's no pre-defined order to the verses - we get the kids to choose - hence the different versions.

So, on that basis, Op, YABU. It's not a sexist song when so much of it is down to individual choice.

Cornish

What are your ideal words?

Let's take the opportunity to pick those apart.

ThroughThick - no, I think lots of people do and I agree with them. It's nothing to do with personal or family circumstances though, just railing against the patriarchy at every opportunity