Sexist football chants

[TheMonkeyMummy]

DH and I have fallen out. He is lovely caring, big soft Geordie, and a big football fan. He took two DS 1&2 to watch the match today and they all had a great time.

An hour ago, he said to me ‘the English and Swedish fans are having a bit of banter. The English are shouting ‘You’re shit but at least your wives are fit.’ And the Swedes are replying ‘Go home to your ugly wives.’

I said ‘that’s quite offensive and rather sexist.’
He said ‘of course it’s sexist. It’s football.’

And so I replied ‘ok, so sexism is ok then. as long as it's funny? I guess there's a similarity between casual sexism and casual racism. As long as it’s a ‘joke’ and serves your agenda, then it’s ok.’ (DH abhors casual racism so I knew this would make him bristle.)

And it has just gone downhill from there. I have told him that I am disappointed in his reaction to my initial comment and I think he needs to reflect upon these chants/comments. He thinks I am being ridiculous as it's all just a bit of fun.

FWIW, I know it's an old chant.

Aibu to be upset that this is permitted behaviour?

Yanbu and not something I’d want my children around

I think it's insulting - good for you for raising it. Sadly, lots of footie culture is like this - and so, in my experience, is Geordie lads culture. I was born and bred in the region and there's lots to like, but Jeeeeesus, the casual sexism was so common... If you ever queried it, you had no sense of humour. Got really boring after a while

so sexism is ok then. as long as it's funny

See, you get it.

By the way, these aren't gender sterotypes, they're stereotypes of Scandi women being tall blonde and beautiful and English women being short, dumpy and unattractive.

I agree with you op

Are you honestly offended by this? It's funny

I noticed there were many stunning typically Swedish blonde/blue eyes etc ladies/girls in the crowd. I watched it with my DH and we both commented on their good looks.
Didn't bother me at all and l'm polar opposite to a Swedish blonde ( Irish of the very dark hair and eyes variety ) I don't take it that saying one nation has beautiful women is saying any other nationality has not.

I'm laughing at the fools telling you to get a grip because they allow their partners to be a part of their insults.
It's really sad!

If we started singing about the size of their dicks, they would throw more than a paddy.

Stop making pathetic excuses for them. It makes you look pretty weak tbh.

😂 😂 I think eventually nobody will be women or men just an IT incase someone gets offended gosh thank god am not planning on having kids there life's going to be controlled to a T

@Footballmumofthefuture yes me too. ESP @BonnieF 's comment telling me FO to go back and watch whatever program (esp as I have never watched an episode of these programs in my life).

FWIW, I am 175cm tall, (taller than DH), have blonde hair and green eyes. I have been told I am a bonny lass. Not that it matters one bit. It's about having respect for each other. Quality banter, to me, does not revolve around reducing females to their physical appearance. (Or telling each other to stfu when we have differences of opinion)

Oops, that wasn't true. I do love Eastenders. Unapologetically.

“It’s just banter” 3 words that mark the speaker out to invariably be a cunt.

@Footballmumofthefuture

"If we started singing about the size of their dicks, they would throw more than a paddy."

You don't see the irony in this sentence. I'll give you a clue - "paddy". Not as woke as you think.

You're a pathetic racist. Don't make excuses for pathetic racists. Racist.

I'm with you OP.
It's not funny and can't be dismissed as 'banter' and therefore acceptable.
I despise football for these sorts of chants (racism, misogyny, the spitting (gross, unhygienic, the fighting (violence, Neanderthal.
I think it send a horrific example of what is acceptable behaviour to children and frankly I don't give a shit if someone thinks I'm overreacting. The arrests that follow football games is evidence enough of how it's just not cool.

And I say this a someone who worked in a football charity for a while in Africa where there was so much positivity around football as a unifying and equalising force for change.

Er....paddy = tantrum??

Doesn’t it?

Are you trying to infer she’s insulting Irish people?

You can't compare this to do singing about size of dicks, they're not singing about size of boobs etc

"Are you trying to infer she’s insulting Irish people?"

Making allowance for your inability to use "infer" correctly, yes.

I guess n---- in the woodpile is fine too.

I'm with the OP. Why do the women have to be objectified? Why not pick on the physical appearance of the men? I wonder if, when women are playing, spectators shout comments about the appearance of their men? I would be willing to bet they don't.
I'm not surprised so many women simply accept it. It's amazing how so many are blind to the sexism that is all around them, everyday.
And to echo pp - if it was a racist chant you can bet it would stop being "just a bit of banter" immediately.

I thought it was funny.
Is that not the right reaction?
I can't even remember how I'm supposed to react these days!

I would say it’s one of those things that is sexist but mildly funny at the same time.

It’s not really about being offended is it? It’s about looking at jokes and why they’re seen as funny, and in this case why they’re seen as insulting.

In this case it’s about reducing women to looks. Might be funny because of the rhyme but it’s still the same old shit.

I think you have to let this one go. Swedish women are stereotypically attractive and looking at the crowd the stereotypes is largely true! It’s just a bit of fun, no need to be insecure about it.

I can't even remember how I'm supposed to react these days!

Oh FFS no one is holding a gun to your head and telling you how to react. This a discussion forum and you can react how you like.

Let’s not do all this faux “PC brigade are stopping me speaking” shit.

"I can't even remember how I'm supposed to react these days!"

Begin by acknowledging your priviledge or something ...

@Chumba

Infer as in conclude? You do realise ‘paddy’ has more than one meaning right?

If you don’t then you must get really offended when people are discussing rice fields.