The farmer wants a wife

[Anothermothernamegame]

DD 4yo has just started reception, and has been singing this song, which they have taught her.

'The farmer wants a wife... The wife wants a child etc'.

AIBU to think this is a really old fashioned, and fairly sexist song to be teaching kids?

Just for the record, it's a fairly "progressive" school in a fairly "progressive" and sought after neighbourhood.

...and no, I don't usually have a stick up my arse, so might well be overreacting.

It’s a bit of fun! I really can’t get annoyed at it.

Convince yourself the farmer is a female farmer if it helps!

It’s traditional and quite a few wives want children. Possibly the majority?

The farmer could be female!

@icedcoffees

The farmer could be female!

Well played! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Its a nursery Rhyme 🙄

It's representative of real life

I sing this to me child - guess I’m old fashioned, sexist and not progressive. 🙄

I'd like a wife.

The farmer could female

FGS its a nursery rhyme.

I know where the OP is coming from with this.

Yes, people can eye roll and ‘oh, it’s a nursery rhyme’ but there are some traditional songs we don’t sing now because they are - unpalatable, referencing slavery and so on.

The farmer wants a wife comes from when farmers would actually BUY a wife (often underage) so I’m not sure it’s suitable. But to be fair I doubt the school have thought that much about it.

Loads of female farmers out there OP but why shouldn’t a male farmer want a wife?

I’d do a farmer, if he (or she) was hot. I’m not sure I’m ready for marriage though.

For crying out loud its a bloody nursery rhyme. Amazed you would have the time to even be fretting about this.

I agree with you OP but probably not worth the fight.

And ring a roses is from when people where dropping dead from the plague. Thankfully children don’t need to understand historical context to enjoy joining in!

I could never get my head around everyone patting the bone at the end. Why not pat the dog?

I bloody hated being the bone and being slapped around the head.

When we sing it in school boys and girls can be the
farmer/wives/children/dog/bone. It is a traditional nursery rhyme that the children love doing.

To also add, one of my very best friends is a farmer and being bisexual she'd love either a husband OR a wife

Why shouldn't a farmer, either male or female, want a wife? I'd like a wife.
What is the actual issue with it?

@Durbeyfield

I’d do a farmer, if he (or she) was hot. I’m not sure I’m ready for marriage though.

"The farmer wants a fuck buddy" doesn't have the same ring to it

@MauvePinkRose

I know where the OP is coming from with this.

Yes, people can eye roll and ‘oh, it’s a nursery rhyme’ but there are some traditional songs we don’t sing now because they are - unpalatable, referencing slavery and so on.

The farmer wants a wife comes from when farmers would actually BUY a wife (often underage) so I’m not sure it’s suitable. But to be fair I doubt the school have thought that much about it.

But that’s not overtly in the words of the rhyme like others we don’t accept now where it’s obvious. On the surface of it, the farmer just wants a wife. You’d have to be pretty good at critical reading as a 4 year old to go down that path with this particular rhyme.

@dannydyerismydad

I could never get my head around everyone patting the bone at the end. Why not pat the dog?

I bloody hated being the bone and being slapped around the head.

Ha! Yeah, me too. Can get out of hand at that stage Do any of you remember 'in and out the dusty roses'?

But it would bring it bang up to date girlmom21

I’d quite like a shepherd, like Liz in Motherland. I’m not sure I’m so keen on a farmer.