"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.

Op yabu, not least because of your wanky hipster username and your misuse of pretentious words in your OP:

The Wheels on the Bus' now seems to comprise the above delight

Nope. It doesn't 'comprise' it. The English language, horribly mangled, lies groaning and writhing on the floor.

Don't use big words if you don't know what they mean.

together with the equally offensive "The Daddies on the bus go shush, shush, shush"

They're shushing the kids, not the mums.

Also, it's not Post Grad level. It's postgrad or, at a stretch, post-grad.

I think this thread is almost certainly a wind-up, but how awful that people are agreeing with it.

(Fully paid-up feminist and 'postgrad' here with, unfortunately, a lot more to worry about.)

So if this example of everyday sexism is so trivial it should be overlooked why are those that disagree bothering to post. Move along people, if it's too trivial move along and stop getting all insulting.

My DH changed it to "Mummies on the bus getting MOTs, MOTs ..."

I've only taken the bus when my car was in for an MOT.

nerrsnerr it's the reduction of mothers/ women to being just 'chatterers' because 'that's basically what women do.' They chat about nothing of consequence and the men get annoyed and fall asleep or tell them to shush.

throughthickandthin You could just use the word 'talk' as it doesn't really have the negative connotation of 'chatter' which is defined as "to talk about unimportant matters"

Salty love it as it makes sense. After all last time I saw someone chatting on a bus in London or B'ham was ... ummmm ... in the 70s

teatimeforthesoul too right, why are people who think this is trivial getting so upset by this. At the most surely you just think it's not important I'm not sure I understand why you're attacking?

(Fully paid-up feminist and 'postgrad' here with, unfortunately, a lot more to worry about.)

Agreed meredithframpton I'd be getting my anger/ aggression levels dealt with if I were you!!

Children gain most of their values from their parents.
Maybe discuss with your partner/ dh how you intend to raise your daughter, what values you hold dear.
Mine didn't go to groups and activities when younger, they played with friends and observed, they learnt from us their parents.
They asked about Postman Pat and Fireman Sam and came up with Postwoman Patricia and Fireman Samantha. They knew we had a post lady because she came most days. They met a Fireman Samantha at a village fete.
You raise them how you want to, you are their biggest influence and educator.

Oh sorry Teatime and Cornish. I hadn't realised this was posted in the subsection of AIBU where only those who agree with the op can post. Doh!

CornishDoll Agreed meredithframpton I'd be getting my anger/ aggression levels dealt with if I were you!!

Hey, thanks for the unsolicited advice on my mental health care, but I'm a bit too busy getting some quite pressing physical health problems investigated. Writing this from my bed while I recover from sedation & opiates given this morning.

Cheers though.

Sorry you're ill but that doesn't really make your attacking post ok. You don't have to agree at all but you don't need to be quite so worked up or mean. Maybe take a break from this thread....

I agree OP - in this house we sing 'the mummies on the bus say hold on tight' instead.

DH got it wrong recently and DS (2) said 'no daddy! That's sexist!'

Never too early to teach him to be a feminist

Good point NewLife

Seem to have missed why people are touting qualifications around the tread. But really 'PostGrad' don't you only want to start boasting once you get to PostDoc?

Cornish thanks for clarifying chatter: so it's ok to repeat over and over that mummies of unimportant matters. Nope still don't like it

I thought it might make you reconsider your unnecessarily nasty & bitchy comments about my 'anger/aggression levels'. But I guess not .

The thread must be a wind-up. But it's shocking that posters are agreeing, and it's not your place to dictate who is and isn't allowed to respond.

Meredith we weren't saying you can't post. We were pointing out the fact that those who are saying this subject is too trivial to discuss are talking time to post/discuss it in an ongoing manner. So by their own argument wasting their own time. Why?

I do have a PhD, as it goes, teatime. That was enough academia for me to last a lifetime.

If you'd read my post you'd have understood it was a reply to the OP, whose first post was a series of bollocks boasts about being a 'Post Grad', a CEO, fuck knows what else.

*taking time

teatime the OP pretended to ask if she should actively raise it with the library or council.

Saying that it's too trivial and that to complain would undermine feminism more generally is a legitimate response to that.

I suspect it was posted to ridicule and divide feminists.

I'm not trying to dictate who can respond but you just seem upset and if you're not very well and on lots of meds then you maybe should focus on recuperating and not letting us get you all annoyed!

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

OP, I bet your mother sang nursery rhymes to you as a child and you have managed to be a successful woman, so I don't see your argument.

The OP has a definite point.
Watch kids tv if you want covert sexism - the boys always have all the fun.

But there is also an issue with mummies and daddies - there are loads of single parents, why the assumption that a child has both?

Yabu

It takes 1 hour to drive from my sons school to home when my husband pick him up they hardly talk about anything the odd grunt and nod when I pick him up we chat all the way home

Women talk way more than men that's it

It's a SONG. your overthinking sorry OP

When I'm with other people at the baby groups (mainly mums but some dads, nans and child minders) we all chatter about stuff. It's hard to talk about serious matters when everyone has one eye on their child to make sure they're not getting in bother. I don't see why chattering is a bad thing. I do it more than my husband because he doesn't like talking at all so only says the essential stuff. My daughter seems to have his quiet traits so she might not chatter much either as an adult. Doesn't make me any less of a person than my husband, just different.

That is my issue with this thread. Chattering serves a purpose and it's not like the song says 'all the mummies on the bus ever do is chatter chatter chatter'

Meredith in my opinion I believe the OP has a point. And that's the thing about democracy we can have differing views (because your post are opinion to, not fact) and discuss them. I'm sorry if you feel attacked. I have felt attacked too on this thread. We hold opposing views, great. But we are all allowed to voice them and not declare others concerns as too trivial to be heard. Equality.