Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Father Christmas is yet another bloody sexist concept

117 replies

chocdog · 12/12/2017 10:12

Just been spending loads of time and effort on the school Christmas fair. Every single person involved since September doing all the hard work and very complex organisation has been female. Then on the day, two dads rock up to do the fun stuff - being Father Christmas. They are the stars of the show getting the glory and enjoying jolly bantz with the kids and massive thanks from the adults.

Why do we go along with this?

All the religions work like this too (as shown by the thread on religions that's running at the moment). We can't change the religions but couldn't we have a Mother Christmas alternative to Father Christmas? Not as his bloody helpmate but as a proper standalone alternative. AIBU?

OP posts:
NameChanger22 · 12/12/2017 10:54

Women do most of the hard work. Men get all the credit. Christmas is the same as all the other days in the year. When I think about it too much it pisses me off. I try not to think about it.

Blahblahblahzeeblah · 12/12/2017 10:55

I have to say Christmas is often the day of the year when I get the most credit.

Namechangetempissue · 12/12/2017 10:56

Don't be so bloody ridiculous. Seriously. I've heard some codswallop recently, but Father Christmas being a sexist concept is up their with the most batshit. I swear people go out to look for things to be offended about.

Emerald92 · 12/12/2017 10:56

Hahaha! I needed a laugh! Maybe ' Mother Christmas' can bring you a grip for Christmas this year 😂

UnderslungBowlingBall · 12/12/2017 10:57

innagazing that sounds lovely, can I offer you a cookie while we're here

Original poster
chocdog · 12/12/2017 11:25

I thought most people would think I'm being ridiculous and tell me to get over myself. You have a point! Glad some people can see my point of view though.

NameChanger22 puts it better than me:
Women do most of the hard work. Men get all the credit. Christmas is the same as all the other days in the year. When I think about it too much it pisses me off. I try not to think about it.
Unfortunately, I have been thinking about it recently and I wish I could do something about it. To make it worse we had teenage girls as Santa's elves - glamorous assistants basically.

We can't change the fact that all the religious heroes are male - because that would be heresy - but I would like to have Mother and Father Christmas as equals - without being a killjoy about it. I would like little girls to envisage a Mother Christmas going down chimneys etc. Is that batshit?

OP posts:
lovelyjubilly · 12/12/2017 11:31

Oh do shut up.

grannytomine · 12/12/2017 11:32

Well Mary features pretty high in the Christian narative. Mother Theresa is considered a religious hero by many but not others. Bernadette was a favourite Confirmation name when I was a kid and was probably one of the saints we heard most about.

Why did you have teenage girls as glamorous assistants? I think that is much more of a problem.

WindyWindy · 12/12/2017 11:35

We had the oldest primary kids as helpers.

AssassinatedBeauty · 12/12/2017 11:38

Really, do less next year, and suggest changes if you don't like how it's done now. Also, get your OH (if you have one, and if they're male) to be involved as well, if possible. Get them to make the same suggestions as you.

Does the tooth fairy being female balance things out a bit?

Balaboosteh · 12/12/2017 11:44

I get you OP. I think you worded it a bit wrong but this puts it better:

Women do most of the hard work. Men get all the credit. Christmas is the same as all the other days in the year. When I think about it too much it pisses me off. I try not to think about it.

I’ve often thought about it as I’ve sat up late wrapping fiddly stocking contents - typical, mum does all the work and then Santa (an imaginary man) rocks down the chimney and gets all the credit. So I hear you. It’s not that he’s a sexist concept though.

Coconutspongexo · 12/12/2017 11:52

I’ve only ever seen teen lads and girls playing the role of elves never one or the other.

People will literally find anything to moan about, your issue isn’t with Father Christmas your issue is with the role some men play in society.

surferjet · 12/12/2017 11:53

I see what you mean op, Dad’s tend to be the ones who joke around more with their children, & Kids seem to see men as ‘entertainers’ rather than women.
I suppose it’s the fact that most comedians & entertainers on T.V are men, & children grow up seeing that.
It’s only superficial though - a lot of comedians are manic depressives ( sadly ) so I’d rather be in the background making the tea.

crow2018 · 12/12/2017 11:57

Seriously Hmm

OhMyGoddd · 12/12/2017 12:00

Yep this.

Women do most of the hard work. Men get all the credit. Christmas is the same as all the other days in the year. When I think about it too much it pisses me off. I try not to think about it.

LloydSpinjago · 12/12/2017 12:11

Every single person involved since September doing all the hard work and very complex organisation has been female

Well maybe next year let the men do it? 3 months of hard work for a Xmas fayre? Sounds like none of you are that capable of its taken you that long.

grannytomine · 12/12/2017 12:13

I think some people have problems with their own division of work at home rather than with Father Christmas. I don't recognise that women do all the work and men get all the glory. Prior to my husband being disabled he did his share, my sons and sil are the same.

KERALA1 · 12/12/2017 12:18

YANBU

Last year a group of mums slaved away to plan, manage, set up, man stalls, clear up the hell that was the Christmas fair. Raised about 4k - kids had fun.

4 dads put up some Christmas decorations at school, probably took about an hour, and is not an unpleasant job unlike being at the sodding fair. They got a special fawning mention in the newsletter and were thanked personally by the head. By name.

I don't care but really WTAF.

RestingGrinchFace · 12/12/2017 12:19

Um, that's not the concept of Father Christmas. That's just an example of a school that expects parents to actually do stuff (which in itself is a bit off really).

geekone · 12/12/2017 12:20

Oh dear god this is getting ridiculous.

It's seems op you have an issue with lazy men. The solution to this is don't do everything then moan about it or take control of the situation in your life that is clearly affecting your view of everything.

Ladies if you have a lazy DP/DH either stop enabling him or LTB.

KERALA1 · 12/12/2017 12:21

Its on point about men's contributions being way over valued in comparison to the boring old worker bees women. I think the OP has a point but yes easy to scoff at any criticism of literally a saint Hmm

geekone · 12/12/2017 12:21

Also Santa is awesome and Mrs Clause seems to have a lovely life with many elf helpers.

OnToTheNextOne · 12/12/2017 13:07

sexist concept emerging from the patriarchy

DFOD

RacingRaccoons · 12/12/2017 14:15

Father Christmas was a real person...Saint Nick ring a bell?

Secondly, there are many matriarchal religions where female goddesses are worshipped and considered far more influential than their male counterparts (Hindu goddesses such as Kali?)

Finally, if your DP or children take you for granted. Stop them! They should be appreciative!

AngelsSins · 12/12/2017 14:40

Typical isn't it? Women do all the work and some old fat white bloke takes the glory Grin