To think DS has a point about the school being sexist?

[DotNoodle]

My DS has dyspraxia so is no good at sports. Apart from that, he's not a typical "lad" either so hates stuff like football and rugby. He'd much rather be straightning his hair, listening to music and programming the PC

Anyway he came home in a right mood yesterday and said the school was "sexist". I'm thinking "Yeah, like an 11 year old is going to know the definition of sexism ... " so I half heartedly said "oh, why?"

He said that a new club has opened during the lunch hour. A computing club ... JUST FOR GIRLS

I said "oh, well they must have a just for boys club then...?" and he rolled his eyes and said "yeah, football"

I'm pretty pissed off actually because DS spends all his lunch hour on his own because ALL THE BOYS play football. The computer club would have been ideal but yet again he's expected to settle for football because he's a "boy".

AIBU?

I don't think a school is actually allowed to do that. If there isn't an equivalent offered for boys then that would be an equal opportunities issue.

I can see the benefits of offering a girls only option (as boys can sometimes dominate if sharing a computer with a girl - previous ICT coordinator/ Y6 teacher here) but you need to give boys access at another time then.

Not on.

Not I don't but maybe the school is trying to involve the girls in computers more as studies have shown that their skills are lower than boys atm.
If it's a fun thing then your son is right, I would go in storming with the sexism thing today.
Let us know what their explanation is.

It's not just sexist that your son can't do the computing, but also pretty sad IMO that the boys get to run around and be active while the girls get to sit quietly.

What about the girls who want to play football - or another sport?

Isn't there a huge problem with girls not engaging in phyiscal activity from a young age in this country?

I read that football thing as his perception but if girls are really excluded from the football club then that is appalling. It's sad that no one else has complained.
I just did a quick google search. Turns that this is an established idea - computer clubs just for girls:
news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_4080000/newsid_4089000/4089092.stm
I can see why it's seen as helpful for the girls but I still think it's incredibly sad.

I come from a long line of girls that prefer doing "Boy" things - My sister helped set up the scholl girls football team, I took cricket instead of Aerobics! I also did a physics a'level (Very much a boy thing then - there were only 3 girls and I think that shrank to 2 by the end) and my cousins girl has just played rugby at twickenham in a schools tournament (Very proud!!!!) I would have kicked up a fuss and been HORRIFIED if any of us were stopped doing these things. Boys and girls are individuals and should be treated as such!

YANBU. The school are probably doing it to get girls interested in computers, but they still need to have provision for boys.

Has he actually been turned away from the club or has he just been put off turning up because it's aimed at girls? If he asks to join they may well let him in (and therefore have to change the name by default). If they have already turned him away then YA definitely NBU and I would be making a trip to speak to the school.

That's right Sam. Its CC4G (computer club for girls). It is aimed specifically at getting girls interested in IT and tends to use lots of 'girly' websites - about designing landscapes, clothes etc. rather than adventure type games (which presumably only boys like .

Still worth talking to the school IMO.

See this link for more details

Does seem unfair to the OP's DS but is set up to bridge a gap felt necessary from research into girls' computer skills and links to industry, apparently.

The girls I know who have been involved have loved it - probably some boys would have enjoyed it too.

May be worth suggesting to school they consider an alternative computer club for boys if there are other staff willing to give up their lunch hour to do this.

Seems unfair that the girls should miss out on some excellent resources though just to be politically correct.

I think a different class (Even one not exclusively for boys but a mixed class) would be acceptable. To think that 1 sex may get a little more help because they need it is 1 thing but to totally exclude the other is just wrong! In addition to this some of the girls may not want to design clothes etc!! I know I didin't given the choice I would much prefer to attend a mixed sex class.

Good grief.

So in order to get girls interested in computers they need to have tailored programmes which look at things like clothes?

And that is the way they plan to combat sexual inequality in that area?

Bloody hell.

I can see why they have thought of doing it-boys try to hog the computers-however I don't think they can get away with it. I would complain.