Magic Faraway Tree - how sexist?!?!?

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

I recently ordered the whole Magic Faraway Tree collection to read to DS (6) at bedtime. I remember the stories being so exciting as a child, and DS seems so far after only 4 chapters, to be loving them too.

Only thing is.....I thought they'd been modernized in more ways than just the children's names. (In our copies of the books the children's names are Beth, Joe and Frannie, not Fannie etc)

But I keep reading that Joe does this, that and the other......Joe said "Come on girls...." (and the girls come running) ...... Joe decided blah blah. Basically it seems like Joe's in charge and the girls are simpering seconds.

Also old-fashioned in other ways. Like "I say!" "Do let's!" etc. But that doesn't really bother me, it's the sexism and patheticness (is that a word?) so far, of the girl characters. Does it carry on like that?!

Also slightly amazed at things like "the children were set to work at once" (by their parents) when the family moved into their new house, having walked 5 miles there from the station. Can you imagine a thread on here in Property/DIY: "have just moved house - have already set the children to work".?!?!?

Oh I know it's only trivial stuff really but I just didn't think it would appear to be that old-fashioned. It's certainly different from our last one - The Bare Bum Gang!

Why is that sexist? just because a male character appears to take charge? if I remember correctly, Isn't Joe the eldest of the 3 children?

They were written between 1939 and 1951 - a different era - what do you expect?

To call them sexist is just silly, they are a product of their time.

Joe is the eldest.

I love the Faraway Tree books and am lucky to still have my copies form when i was a child, ds1 and i have started reading them together.
They are book written a long time ago in a time where males were dominant so of course the books are written for the time, however i dont think its an extreme amount at all.

You can always edit as you read "Come on!" said Beth, and Joe and Frannie came running although IIRC Jo(e) is also the eldest so you could pitch it as an "oldest child is always in charge" thing.

My DD1 (age 7) has just started reading this as I loved them when I was a child. At this age I don't think children think about sexism, it's just a good story.

Was actually more shocked when we sat down to read my old rhymes books (which my mum had saved) to discover the old version of eenie meenie minee mo, it still used the n word. Had to quickly change it and hop my daughter doesn't notice aah!

I was more concerned about 'Chinky' in the Wishing Chair, as that's the sort of thing a child might repeat at school and, unintentionally, cause offence.

I just adapt as I read them, but I don't worry about the gender-stereotyping so much.

We have the Audio version, narrated by Kate Winslet which is just beautiful.

I can see where you are coming from, but don't see it a a problem personally. Joe is certainly bossy (just like my eldest!), but there are instances of the girls having 'joyy good ideas' etc as well. And yes, Joe is the eldest.

I have also read Pippi Longstocking to the kids (bossy girl!) and They love Charlie and Lola (bossy girl!), and the love Milly Molly Mandy (amazingly dated, but little MMM is actually quite independent, toddling off and climbing tress and buying sweets etc etc), and The Magic Finger (girls hero)...

I think it all pans out. And could be a good lesson in critical literacy too - a chance to talk about the fact that different texts were writen at different times and in different cultures etc.

Pocketmonster, of course I know they are a product of their time, I was just wondering how to convey that to a 6 year old!

DifferentID: It's just the way it's written, as if the girls can't make any decisions for themselves. Not far into the books yet of course, so perhpas I'm jumping the gun a bit. I had aso overlooked the fact that JOe is the eldest and so maybe the "bossiest". It's certainly not like that in our house with bossyboots DS2 though!

er, that is 'jolly good ideas'.

Also, I think its very refreshing and sweet the way the children get along with one another, and the way they expect to be helpful at home. Sure, there is plenty we should be glad to have left behind in the 40s, but there are somegood old fashioned virtues here too. I have even encouraged the kids to "help put the washing away, just like Joe, Beth and Frannie"

erm... is Enid Blyton. It is sexist, racist, homophobic. If the book was completely rewritten it would not be an Enid Blyton story.

These books are historical and reflect their era. If you want something less sexist or racist then why don't pick something written more recently. There is plenty of high quality children's literature like Roald Dahl, Jermony Strong, or half million other authors who write better than Enid Blyton.

I'm reading these to my dd (6) at the moment. We have just started and they went up to the first land and it was a roundabout and it whizzed around and they couldn't find the way back.

It was one of the girls, Beth I think, that made a plan to get them back (involving fairy rings and talking rabbits) if you are interested.)

My dd loved the bit at the start where they were set to work and she was very interested in why they had to walk from the train station because they don't have a car and the Dad has to walk to town for some butter or whatever it was.

Needless to say I am loving all the old language, but then I am one for vocabulary.

Astrophe, I think you're right about it being a good lesson in critical literacy. DS has already tried to correct some grammatical point that doesn't sound quite right these days. I can't remember what it was now but I did have to say "Well, it's the sort of thing that people used to say in the old days, blah blah"

Don't get me wrong, I think the books are great and they really capture a child's imagination. DS1 was giggling like mad when he realised that Dame Washalot's water was on its way down the tree ready to land on someone's head, and he actually gasped and shivered with delighted anticipation at the end of the chapter we're on where the children can see the clouds at the top with the tree going through and the hole ready to climb through and explore. He's clearly loving it!

I've been more shocked by how graphic and scary Roald Dahl books are - I just don't remember that aspect of them from when I read them as a child.

I agree about some Roald Dahl books. Have read most to DS1 and he did enjoy them but yes, was clearly scared at the extreme treatment some of the less savoury characters experience. He also had a few sleepless nights because he thought a giant might come along the street one night and grab him from his bed and eat him. And that was AFTER he had worried himself to death that poor Sophie had no parents and lived in a horrible orphanage.

Speaking of magic and woods, found this and wondered if anyone had been? www.enchantedforest.org.uk/

I think it's such a shame that the children have been renamed. I hope the 2nd boy in the Famous Five won't be renamed.

Or Aunt Fanny!

Oh that's a coincidence, I'm reading these to my DD this summer too. She's getting really into it and loves it. It's really shown her that she doesn't need pictures to look at all the time.
I've got the older version, but DD's young enough that I can say the name 'Fanny' without her sniggering as she has no idea.
I love it that the children are working in the house and garden (Jo hasn't got a day off all week so they had to visit Moonface at night) ....I might have even paused at that to make sure it sunk in

My DD is 7 and, having read the Magic Faraway Tree books, is now reading another Enid Blyton book 'The Secret Island.' This is my copy from childhood and DD is horrifed that the boys do the exciting exploring and the girls sew/wash
up/get bossed around. My mum said when I read this series as a child I did not question any of this. How times change!

My oldest daughter is thoroughly modern about equality and women's rights but The Secret Island is still one of her favourite children's books. Children are able to read past the stereotypes.

The Secret Island was Gillian Baverstock, Enid Blyton's elder daughter's favourite book. A nicer lady than Gillian would be hard to find, clever, warm and always friendly to annoying children :).

The Secret series are all worth a read but the Adventure series the best of all IMO.

As others have said Enid was a product of her time.

Totally agree with ReallyTired. Enid Blyton was pappy stuff when I was a kid (not surprising when you consider the huge volume of books she pumped out) and they are very very dated in a really bad way. Just because something was written in a time when sexism was considered totally normal it doesn't mean that it isn't sexist. I think that we should be careful about what we read to our children as they will assume that we agree with the story that we are telling, or the underpinning messages. Yes you could use it as an opportunity for critical appraisal, to explain about how things used to be, but that does tend to get in the way of reading a good story IMO.

I'd read something else.

My boys (9 and 6) LOVED these books. Sexism wasn't questioned but the manners of the children, the respect shown to their elders and the amount of chores they did without question for their mother gave us lots of topics of conversation afterwards.

I am 32. This book was one of the first ever books I could read. Even then it was a classic. Maybe it Is sexist, and if you read deeper (and watched the recent programme on Enid Blytons life) you will appreciate there are some very serious hidden issues, but, none of this is the point. The point is it is an incredibly imaginative, provoking and intreaguing book.