"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.

"
Pogmella you make no sense at all."

Yes she does. Perfect sense. You are quite at liberty to disagree- but saying she makes no sense just shows under thinking.

We do get some nice ones round here

I went to get on a bus with the pushchair to find the bay was already occupied. Started to get Dd out and collapse the pushchair when the bus driver told me to just stand with it in the gangway and get off and on again at any stop. He then proceeded to tell me all about his grand daughter

Around here the children on the bus went chatter, chatter, chatter. The mummies said sit down please. Can't remember what the daddies did.

Suppose the op does take this to council, they may well turn round and cancel these sessions....then what will you do?....'it's all gone quiet, all gone quiet'!

Yes, it seems the Op wasn't that interested in opinions after all.

Schnitzel that's how I sing it.

When I think of chatter I think of a bunch of children, not women.

Not that there is anything wrong with chatting.

that1950smum Pogmella's post seemed pretty straightforward to me, what can we help explain to you?

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

Yes, language is important. The word driver is gender neutral though. So, what is your point?

Hope that explains why I said it makes no sense Cornish

Are you being serious or are you being facetious? I assume the latter....

Fascinating how people are always complaining that feminists on Mumsnet are so rude and dismissive, how they all pile in as if an alarm's gone off.........

Its a neutral noun but in the wider context of a society that defaults to male gendering, especially for more 'powerful' roles most people see a man. The few roles people default to a woman are generally in lower paid/caring professions such as cleaner, nurse, secretary. Obviously its very personal and I'm only envious of posters who haven't been so conditioned that they struggle with this as I do. I do see a woman for GP though, but not surgeon (despite a huge Grays addiction...)

My surgeon was a woman

I'm sorry but unless the job is penis model or King, every job is gender neutral. You do not need to say it's mans job or a woman's job.

When I picture the bus driver from The Wheels On The Bus he is a man, yes.

But he's also Victorian for some reason.

I would change the words to suit you. It's more about rhythm and rhyme anyway. I mean when was the last time you wound a bobbin up, and if you did, did you clap 3 times afterwards?

Mistress mine is a 50's era driver with a cap

Needa There's this riddle about a father & son in a dreadful car crash, rushed into hospital and the Dr takes one look and faints. Why? The answer is she's their wife/mother and its meant to fox people because they subconsciously assume man, despite Dr being an entirely neutral noun. So of course you shouldn't have to state any gender, but it is certainly a recognised phenomenon.

Mine has a cap too. :o

And an impressive handlebar moustache.

Pogmella and Mistress how do you know she has/ uses a cap?

AhhMistress missed your post higher up designating gender neutral term driver as a male. Now I get it. Easy mistake to make.
Pogmella which kind of cap did you mean?

My imagination gave him one, it's just how I have pictured it since I was little.

X post!

What about this little gem, in a Ladybird book of "Number Rhymes":

Knock, knock, knock, knock -
Hear the knockings four!
Each a knock for someone standing
At our kitchen door

The first is a beggarman,
The second is a thief,
The third is a pirate,
And the fourth a robber chief.

Close all the windows,
Lock the door, and then
Call for the policeman quick
To catch those four bad men!

Now, how should we update this little poem? Lots of "men" in there. Of course, "chav" is a gender-neutral word. And as beautifully illustrated, "kitchen door" refers to when townhouses had basement kitchens with steps leading down to the door.

Teatime if only I could imagine a genial lass with her diaphragm in place! (The driver on the bus has a prophylactic, prophylactic...) Alas he's a twinkly eyed rogue despite my liberal feminist yearnings...

Oh FFS! I have only read the OP. Its a kids song about nothing. Its not the Gospel according to St Luke! I am hoping to give you a biscuit (But it has never worked in the past). So here's a .....If it didn't work you know you deserve a biscuit in any case