"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.

Oh no not that thread again...

at my group the Daddies on the bus go "stop that noise", Mummies go "chatter chatter chatter|" Babis go "Waa Waa Waa". I can't bring myself to be outraged but if I was I might take the babies cause up, I think that its ageist.

I'm a mum and I go chatter chatter on the bus, along with many other women who happen to be mums.

The Brides on the bus go Maui Maui Maui

The Brides on the bus go The day's All about Me, All about me, Me Me Me!

MrsDeVere would you also find it ok to sing about women cooking/cleaning and men working? Not negative but teaching gender biased, and limiting, stereotypes and perpetuation an outdated and blinkered bias.

Nothing wrong with chatting MrsDeVere - but chatting goes with chat not chatter surely?
Chat/Chatting is something done by people (all people). Informal talking.
Chatter/Chattering is something done by monkeys or teeth as far as I'm concerned. Meaningless and inane.

I'm one of those terrible mummies who's never been near a toddler group type environment but I assume my youngest sings this song at nursery so I might try and find out what their lyrics are.

I probably wouldn't give it too much thought but, on balance, think YANBU. Certainly if the daddies are hushing the mummies as oppose to the babies.

Go on, complain. You really should.

And then come back and tell us the reaction.

I was actually thinking about this at Baby Sensory this morning when we were doing this song. At first it got my back up but now that I'm 'unpacking' it, what is wrong with chatting? Chatting with my mum friends is a major part of my mat leave. I can see that it has the connotation of gossip but if it were reversed and the daddies were chatting and the mummies were shushing I'd probably be offended that the dads were having 'leisure time' and the mums were relegated to the 'wife work' of taking on primary caring responsibility for the babies It should probably be changed to grownups and leave it at that.

I agree with you, but I always used to sing them at home and change the words and laugh about it with the DDs. Something along the lines of the daddies going gossip gossip gossip (because they do, my DH is a terrible gossip!) and whatever other silly anti-stereotype stuff I could think of.

You're probably on a hiding to nothing complaining though - perhaps just look at it as a good opportunity to show your children early that these stereotypes exist and they need to be ridiculed.

One thing I've certainly noticed in my many years working in early years is that so many early stories are about animals, and they are nearly always a "he".
I agree that this kind of insidious sexism probably has a strong effect on young minds - when I read Dear Zoo I tried to alternate between he and she for the different animals that came along - easy to do as they only have bit parts on each double page.
I do like the bus song - one of my favourites. But I'm sure all to the good if you make up your own actions for the characters

YANBU to be bothered by it. However I'm not sure I'd go so far as to complain to the council. You could suggest to the library that an alternative verse is used.

People saying OP is overreacting about a nursery rhyme are missing the point - this kind of subtle sexism is rife and perpetuates gender stereotyping from a young age.

Oh come on. I remember thinking it was a bit of a cheek when singing those rhymes with my children but that was it really, a passing thought. Far more important things to worry about.

itsmine - from wikidiff:

As verbs the difference between chat and chatter
is that chat is to be engaged in informal conversation while chatter is to talk idly

Same applies to chatting and chattering.

This is so utterly daft I can barely find the words OP. But I'll do me best.. It's from a child's perspective FGS, and mums do chat to each other. One of my earliest memories is of my mum sitting at the kitchen table nattering with our female neighbours. Have I internalised sexism? Tony Warren wrote Coronation Street from snatched conversations between the women in his house chatting away. Please, this is so silly....

Matthew Wright will go nuts on this. He has made a career out of chatter, chatter, chatter (dict exp) "to talk idly".

When I was little there was a song about patting the farmers wife. I think.

Do people really not accept that chat and chatter are two different words?

cringe....hate it

The version I sing has the daddies going moan moan moan by way of compensation for the lyrics...

The Brides on the bus go Maui Maui Maui

ooh just think of the fancy hula arm movements we could do to this!

I'd always rather overthink than underthink........
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^ this X 100000

I agree with what you're saying OP. It might only be a nursery rhyme but it's compounding and contributing to the hundreds of messages children receive every day about who they are and their place in the world.

Yes, I'd be fine with 'chat' Itsmine - not sure what the eye roll is about - they're different words with different connotations.