To think Father Christmas is yet another bloody sexist concept

[chocdog]

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?

Secondly, there are many matriarchal religions where female goddesses are worshipped and considered far more influential than their male counterparts

oh come on, you're kidding yourself there, there aren't many at all! The vast majority of religions oppress women.

The work typically done by women is certainly often undervalued, but surely Christmas is in fact a time of year when women get more credit than usual and men get little? Nobody gives Father Christmas any credit except children, and that only happens if you choose to tell them that he brings all the presents (rather than just a stocking full of little bits like he does in our house).

I never thought I would see the day where Father Christmas becomes a vocal point in a discussion about sexism.

yep. The poor enslaved elves never get any credit either, Santa just rocks up and takes all the glory and appreciation. The bastard

Father Christmas is a man though?
And let's not forget who's birthday Christmas is all about - also a man. Or do you think we should all embrace a female Jesus Christ as well?
I swear I wish I had the time and headspace to just contemplate such things!

I've no issue with Father Xmas being a man.

But:

My school PTA Xmas fair was also put together by women.

Because women in my school's socioeconomic circle are the ones who have gone part time after children.

Among the on the day helpers, I'd say 90% were female (weekend, and though some people work weekends, I don't think it's a work reason for that mix)

There wasn't any fawning over the men.

But the dominance of women in the child related activities and their choices about their paid work is worth noting.

I know 3 men who have done FC at various events over the last couple of years. None of them would describe the experience as being fun! (And yes they did other stuff before and after as well). DH hated doing it - sitting in what was effectively a tent in a hot suit and beard for an hour while children filed in either chatting at him for ages or crying and hiding.
He much preferred the tombola.

He's not just a male, he's a WHITE male. He's a sexist AND a racist construct.

Seriously, please have a word with yourself.

Oh for the love of god. There's always one isn't there? I can't believe Father Christmas has to now become sexist!

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

Females organised it, but it's father Christmas that's sexist. Why didn't the females organise a female Santa?

Stop trying to ruin christmas

I love Christmas and I'm definitely not trying to ruin it. I would just prefer to have one hero that could sometimes be female. I honestly don't want to kill Santa or the joy.
I know plenty of women that would volunteer to be Mother Christmas and would do it very well alongside the Father Christmas. Maybe I will suggest it next year.

I agree that Mary is an essential part of the story but she is one and the men are many:

Baby Jesus
GOD
Gabriel
Joseph
Three Kings
Herod
Santa
Rudolf
Elf

Will shut up now as requested!

Rudolf

All Santa's reindeer are female as males loose their antlers at the start of winter, the females don't

www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/santa/reindeer.asp

But as Santa is magical that logic doesn't have to apply, @Mumof56.

I know plenty of women that would volunteer to be Mother Christmas and would do it very well alongside the Father Christmas. Maybe I will suggest it next year.

Yeah, can see that going down well. You'll be known as THAT parent who wants rid of Father Christmas and wants Mother Christmas instead
"We're off to see Mother Christmas, kids!" "Wah, what about Santa?!"
"He's part of a patriarchal set up, the whole thing is an affront to women. Merry Christmas!"

The other parents will either laugh you out of there or be rolling their eyes and taking the piss when you're out of earshot,

Outrageous!

We need a female james bond! How dare they not cast a woman!

@AssassinatedBeauty

You're right Santa is magical. He could be a female, has anyone actually seen his penis?

He's not just a male, he's a WHITE male. He's a sexist AND a racist construct.

He’s also able-bodied and straight so he’s a sexist, racist, homophobic and disablist construct!

YANBU

Well Mary features pretty high in the Christian narative.

Yes, but on MN, anything Christian = indoctrination. Whenever I see "indoctrinate" on a thread about children being taught anything Christian, I think "bingo!!"

Yanbu - women do all the Christmas work - fat, old, white man gets all the credit! Normal innit!

Father Christmas was a real guy. Saint Nicholas.
I'm all for equality however he was a bloke...he just was...

He is still celebrated today as he was a smashing guy! Just like Mother Theresa was an awesome lady.

There's no need to change history just because the guy was a dude.

There's no reason why female characters couldn't have been cast. But trying to change the sex of father Christmas?

Agree with op

Of course, Father Christmas is a man, based on St Nicholas etc etc. But the whitewashing out of any female involvement is irritating.

If you can find a way to work three prostitutes into the Christmas version of St Nicholas, be my guest.

The Legend of St. Nicholas
The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicholas. It is believed that Nicholas was born sometime around 280 A.D. in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey. Much admired for his piety and kindness, St. Nicholas became the subject of many legends. It is said that he gave away all of his inherited wealth and travelled the countryside helping the poor and sick. One of the best known of the St. Nicholas stories is that he saved three poor sisters from being sold into slavery or prostitution by their father by providing them with a dowry so that they could be married. Over the course of many years, Nicholas’s popularity spread and he became known as the protector of children, coopers, sailors, fishermen, merchants, broadcasters, the falsely accused, repentant thieves, brewers, pharmacists, archers, pawnbrokers, Aberdeen, Galway, Russia, Greece, Hellenic Navy, Liverpool, Bari, Siggiewi, Moscow, Amsterdam, Lorraine and Duchy of Lorraine.

Just like Mother Theresa was an awesome lady. Maybe, maybe not.