"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.

I can't see that it's offensive, it's a statement of fact. My point is that just because something in a song reflects a situation that can/does exist, doesn't mean it's not a harmful stereotype.

However I will of course have it deleted if it is offensive in some way. Can you explain why it is?

That used to irritate me as well. I'd sing "the people on the bus go chatter" and "the parents on the bus go shush". I tried singing the original lyrics but it made me feel like here I was, 6 months into maternity leave, now complicit in my own trivialisation.

I love the psychobabble. It's a wonder I grew up quite normal and not a raging sexist isn't it, being subjected to all these misogynistic nursery rhymes. I hope people who believe in the psuedo-psychology of this apply the same reasoning to every action they take and every thing they say - I doubt it, it would be very tiring.

Rhombus I think the problem with your example is the pointing out of 'black lady'. Wouldn't 'lady' suffice? I would have no problem with 'lady on the bus goes mop mop mop' because why yes, women can be cleaners. As can black women obviously, but it's the pointing out of the person's skin colour thats offensive not the action they're doing.

that should say 'including black women obviously'

Urrrrgggh, yes I can see it's offensive to point out the black lady, that's what I'm saying!

"The lady on the bus goes mop mop mop" would be sexist stereotyping.

"The mummies on the bus go chatter chatter chatter" is also sexist stereotyping.

But because people can find it so hard to recognise sexist stereotyping, I used the black lady as an analogy because racist stereotyping is something most people are much more sensitive too, therefore it makes the point more clearly.

I'm prepared to accept that was perhaps ill-advised, as ironically people not think I'm actually being racist in the act of using racist stereotyping as a parallel.

So I will have it deleted if that is what people want.

No, you don't get what I'm saying. My problem isn't the stereotyping.

The lady on the bus going mop mop mop - fine. She's mopping. Sure it's not the only thing she's going to do in her day. Sure she's going to go home and study for some heavyweight qualifications or whatever

The black lady on the bus going mop mop mop - no need to point out her skin colour.

Like saying 'oh I have a cleaner' - fine. But 'I have a black cleaner' - not fine. Nothing to do with stereotypes just the needless pointing out of skin colour.

That's why I don't think your analogy works.

Anyway this nursery rhyme has officially been ruined for me, when my DS is old enough to sing it it's going to remind me of this thread fgs. Not a fond memory I want to have

Why can't we be slotted into different genders? waits to be marginalised by hardcore feminists

OP Catch yerself on!!
It's only a children's song
YABVVVU

I thought I was the mummies that said shh shh shh, and it was the people who chatter chatter chatter

"Why can't we be slotted into different genders?"

How do you propose we slot into different gender?

Seriously?? It's a nursery rhyme. For BABIES. they don't even know what a man or woman is for God sake.
You're being ridiculous

'Many black women have jobs as cleaners' Rhombus?

My comment would get deleted if I said what I really wanted to here.

Please show me where it is 'definitely true' that more than 50% of black women are cleaners.

At our group the granny's on the bus used to knit knit knit now they text text text . And the dads say don't do that??!!

Right I'm the one who has been debating with Rhombus and even I can see what she said for what it was; an example. Many black women do have jobs as cleaners, just as white women do. Just as I'm sure many are lawyers. And where did she say 'more than 50% have jobs as cleaners'.

Interesting all the different variations. Here mummies in the bus go shush shush shush whilst rocking a baby and daddies punch punch punch.

Would you consider grannies knit knit knit and grandads snore snore snore as stereotypical offensiveness????

I do change the words to this.
I also got a stay and play group to change the words to a different song. I asked and they did.
So I am with you.

This is the first I've heard of dads going shush shush . In the wheels on the bus nursery rhyme

At our group the grannies text text text and daddies say don't do that ??!!!!

The Mummies on the (Gospel Oak) bus go "Waitrose are out of rocket AGAIN..."

YABU, there are bigger fish to fry in terms of gender equalities.

Rhombus is clearly not trying to be racist, but using it as a clearer example as 99% of people would be quick to spot the racism in that statement, whereas a much smaller proportion perceive sexism. Doesn't mean they're wrong, sure if we hopped in the mumsnet time machine and whizzed back a few decades the majority would happily sing her rhyme- so maybe there's hope yet!