“Awww aren’t they cute”

[CelticFairy]

Said about a group of ten year old girls playing football. This mum said ‘awww aren’t they just so cute in their football kit’ the conversation went on with another three mums agreeing and another saying ‘her dad always tells me how good she is, I don’t know anything I just think she’s so cute in her kit’ this made me irrationally angry and I had to say something so I simply said ‘would you say the same about the boys team or your sons’ the answer was a resounding no but one mum then pulled me aside and said ‘see this is why the other mums don’t like you’.

I’m learning to be okay with them not liking me because I think they are idiots!

But surely this is not how we speak about girls playing sport, they had been running about a training hard and are great footballers.

AIBU that this is one of the reasons girls and women’s sport doesn’t get taken seriously.

I had hospital appointment this week, talking to DD about it I said how cute the physio was. I suppose he was 30.

I’m learning to be okay with them not liking me because I think they are idiots! well if you think that about them then why is it a surprise they don't like you?

I would probably say something like

"They do look cute! I wonder if we'd all be saying it if they were boys though?"

And then they'd say

"Yes, we would, wouldn't you?"

And I'd say

"Yes, I suppose I would too actually"

And then there'd be awkward silence.

I think it perfectly acceptable and normal for parents to say their children are cute.
It is not sexist or anything other than a form of endearment. I can't see how a mum speaking fondly of her child would bother anyone. It would be different if she was being abusive to her and shouting at her, then yes intervene.
But perhaps that is acceptable where you live.

There are a lot of women that think some male professional footballers are cute.

She's not interested football but is supporting her daughter playing football. Which is a good thing, isn't it? If this is true, your ego is insane "I'm not like a regular mom, I'm a woke mom" fuck up.

I think I will be inventing a gran who says..

"My Gran always used to say you'd slide a lot further on treacle than turds."

Back to the OP.. I do think you would change more behaviours by agreeing while not agreeing. 'Yes, haven't they trained hard, aren't they talented.'

(BTW.. I am a bit like you, I have also been taken aside and told I was 'going about it the wrong way'... )

‘see this is why the other mums don’t like you’.

Makes it sound like this wasn't the first time the OP has said something for a reaction. I wonder how the Dads feel?

My little brother looked like a bumble bee in his first kit - fucking adorable. I’m 100% for girls being respected as athletes and for their achievements but tbh sometimes little kids do look really cute. I would most definitely say it about boys too.

Everyday sexism at work. It's depressing that parents today are still passing down this ingrained sexist nonsense.

I think my daughter looks cute in her Liverpool kit and say so. That is my prerogative and I couldn’t care less if you agree or not. I know I am raising a strong independent young lady and don’t need to be patronised which is exactly what you were doing.

I've a girl & two boys, all of who play a bloody insane amount of sport.

I see the double standards all the time.

However, OP you were completely out of line. The parents can comment on their own kids as they wish. It isn't immediately correlative that saying they look cute, is exhibiting sexism towards them. And most importantly the girls were on the pitch. They were playing, signed to football, and parents were there supporting them.

I've some experience in this. And in my experience, getting the girls on the pitch & to stick with training & matches, is what matters.

Even if you baulked a bit internally about the 'cute' comment, you'll not change anything by challenging people that way.

@FlatteredFool

Everyday sexism at work. It's depressing that parents today are still passing down this ingrained sexist nonsense.

The woman was saying how good at football her husband tells her their daughter is but she doesn't know anything about football. How the fuck is that 'depressing' or 'ingrained sexist nonsense'?

My Dd(5) is cute in her Celtic Strip 😉
HH

Since these are mothers clearly
Shorting their football playing girls, you’re lecturing the wrong crowd I feel

Yup I'd say the same about boys YADNBU

Everyday sexism at work. It's depressing that parents today are still passing down this ingrained sexist nonsense.
This is not sexism Imo. PP's including myself have confirmed that male DC are cute too and have passed comments on boys looking cute in a new kit too.

but one mum then pulled me aside and said ‘see this is why the other mums don’t like you’.I’m learning to be okay with them not liking me because I think they are idiots!

Don't jeapordise your daughters friendships over your big white horse ride.... Learn to be civil and not start arguments.

Kids all do look cute in their little sports kits, doesn’t matter if they’re male or female.

For the record I'm not being racist I'm white British

If a parent thinks their child looks cute and voices this what right do you have to question it?

I have two boys around that age and always comment on things like how cute they look in their kit or their wetsuits or their school blazers or whatever. That;'s normal, surely?

see this is why the other mums don’t like you’.

🤣🤣🤣Did she really say that? I guess if you're going to be upfront then you can't blame her for doing the same!

I don't disagree with your opinion that it isn't something they'd say to their sons but to chastise them for it is a bit self-important of you. I think it's perfectly possible to admire your dd's football skills and also find them cute in their kits.
Maybe your comment will have started them thinking but you probably didn't go about it the right way. But if you really don't care what they think then no harm done!

Op doesn’t seem to have got the sympathy I think she was expecting.

Maybe other parents think their child looks cute. It’s nobody’s place to tell them any different.

Bizarre. I think little boys look very cute I when proudly dressed in sports kit. What about small reception boys in their overly-large school uniform? Too cute for words!