"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.

Yes Pogmella exactly.

Absolutely, Pogmella.

Absolutely Sparkling

yes pogmella - a good explanation for why people get so angry.

There's always people on these threads who say it's only a tiny example of sexism so we should let it go. And if this was only example of sexism in society then they'd be quite right. But can you seriously not see how the thousands of tiny examples add up to one big fucking problem?

Our daddies fall asleep, mummies say "I love you".

Or Pogmella you start believing that non-issues like this one are a real problem and then you start seeing problems everywhere.

What Istme said.

At our baby rhyme sessions, all the verses are parts of the bus (wipers/horn etc) except 'the babies on the bus bounce up and down'

I'm sure I heard 'the grannies on the bus go knit knit knit' somewhere, but never heard any verses referring to grandads. No fair!

Ok lets just increase all women's pay by a percentage to fix the pay gap. No, because that's not how you address such a massive issue, you analyse all the contributing factors and start with those. Trickle it down and actually, women's voices being seen as primarily engaged in idle chatter could well be a barrier to career progression in some cases.

I mean, when you picture the driver, honestly, what gender do you see in your mind's eye? Language is important!

Most bus drivers around here are female.

You're not allowed to chat to bus drivers, it's distracting.

How do the female bus drivers cope not being able to chatter Sparkling?

I know Sparkling , I still find myself picturing a man if someone mentions a doctor, driver, engineer- despite myself. I hate it, but its a result f years and years of this man as essence, woman as other subtle linguistic bullshit. So yeah, loads of tiny subtle examples which seem petty in isolation but in context are important.

I have no idea Mistress Maybe they get to do a bit of chatter when the bus stops.

I spend a lot of time waiting for DS's school bus by where all the normal bus stops are in town. I will need to observe.

Doesn't stop our bus drivers chatting away

In fact some of them are quite chatty and encourage you to come and have a chin wag

All men though. Seen one female driver around here

Pogmella you make no sense at all.

i never picture any of those examples particularly as men. Especially not Doctors, I just think of my own female GP.

Any toddlers getting on buses in these parts are quite likely to see a female driver.

We also have a female refuse collector sometimes. I am beginning to think my one horse town is actually not too bad.

Has the OP been back to this thread?

I do see plenty of female lorry drivers though

No. A shit stirrer?

I have never met a chatty bust driver NeedAClever.

The way buses are designed in Belfast makes it a little difficult.

Bus, not bust.