"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.

Jason I was hoping for The Wright Stuff so Jo Mangel can give us his thoughts.

This bothers me too OP. When it's sung I change the second 'mummies' to 'daddies'. And vice versa for 'shush'. I don't really like the idea of anyone being told to shush though. At home I omit both chattering and shushing.

The teens on the bus said, fuck off, fuck off, fuck off?

What was your crime ouryve.

Great post, FirstWeTakeManhattan.

I always sang about Mummies shushing the wah-ing babies and the Daddies chatting. Mansplaining or monologue-ing didn't really scan. Poetic licence.

Oops. An old article about whether women talk more than men.

Try as I might, I literally cannot bring myself to give a shit.

It's a stupid song, that nobody - apart from people who I would suggest are really overthinking this - gives 2 seconds thought to the lyrics about. Complaining about petty shite like this just demeans and dilutes campaigns about things which actually matter.

I agree with you OP, I don't like the stereotypes of women being gossipy and men being in charge. I'd just pipe up with "that's a bit sexist, innit? Surely it should be the people on the bus go chatter chatter chatter!"

The mummies on the bus shout equal pay"

Or The mummies on the bus shout wages for housework!

I know what you mean OP.

I accept it at groups but at home I sing parents on the bus etc.

I also have a problem with old macdonalds farm that it's always "and on that farm HE had some"

Yes maybe overthinking it but when you do start seeing how gendered our kids worlds are everything annoys you!

I wouldn't have the confidence to say something but I think it would be a good thing if someone did suggest less gendered words at these groups.

All together now the Mummies on the bus are educated to Post Grad level, Post Grad level, Post Grad level...

Brilliant!

The mummies on the bus shout AIBU not to move my buggy

I think we need to see Holly and Phil discussing this on This Morning. They can get two people with opposing views to battle it out on the sofa. not sure who they use instead of Katie Hopkins now is it that Shona Sibary woman?

It will be a cold day in hell before you get this mummy on a bus!

At my library the daddies go 'tap tap tap' on their phones. I don't like the image that gives of both parents ignoring their kids!

I think things like this absolutely matter; we are literally training our kids from birth in casual sexism and gender stereotypes. What I really hate though is the universal maleness of everything. Why are all the animals in Dear Zoo male? Why are all but one of Paw Patrol male? Why do BINGO and Spot the dog have to be male? I can just about forgive Thomas the Tank Engine for being old, but so many modern stories are still making all of the could-be-either-sex characters male.

On tomorrows Matthew Wright Phone in,
"Nursery Rhymes, sexist twaddle or songs for uneducated scum?"

YANBU I think it would be quite brave. I always feel like doing this when I hear that song but I don't say anything for fear of being called uptight. Its just that these things seep into childrens heads and actually its pretty harmful... what sort of message is it sending out to little girls and boys about how they should behave towards each other? That women chatter nonsense and don't deserve to be listened to? And that men shouldn't talk about things because chatter is nonsense and what women do? That's pretty harmful to be honest. I don't want my son growing up thinking that talking is weak or just something women do. I think that that's a terrible problem for boys at the moment. I know its only a song but when I think back to some of the stories I read as a child and the effect they had on me about what I thought it meant to be a woman I can see that these things actually have quite a far reaching impact. x

Yep I can see it now See, and it will be discussed in depth by Anthony Costa and Joe Mangel hopes.

The journos on the bus go copy, copy, copy...

YANBU
Completely agree. We just perpetuate sexism to the next generation by teaching stereotypes at such a young age.
There's a really great discussion going on here too: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2615873-To-be-angry-HR-made-this-relatively-minor-assumption