So I dropped off dd at the Brownies disco yesterday...

[GeorgianMumto5]

...just as the DJ was playing Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines. How, in the name of...anything, is that song even remotely suitable for a children's disco, never mind one run by an organisation which campaigns for an end to sexism?

I know I should have walked right back in and told them what I thought of their music choice, but I didn't. Dd knows there's a song out by some idiot who thinks it's ok to laugh at girls and not listen to them and she's pretty cross about that, but I don't think she knows which song it is. I was already half way down the path when I realised which song they were playing.

Can I just interrupt this heated debate?

Someone referred to the radio edit of Blurred Lines? Have the lyrics been cleaned up in this version? MIL has bought Just Dance 2014 for dd for Christmas and it has Blurred Lines on it. I'm wondering if it'll be a child friendly version if such a thing exists (I've never even heard the song but I'm aware of the controversy).

I know what arrogance is as well.

How smug you come across, there's nothing in this 'convo' to go over anyone's head. You just trying to make yourself seem intelligent but failed

'toodle pip' ffs

Obviously I can't interrupt then.

I imagine the radio edit will omit the reference to having 'tear your arse in two'? But will still feature 'you're a good girl, you know you want it' which I find pretty grim personally.

OP YANBU, I imagine they hadn't listened to the lyrics.

I don't think 'you're a good girl, you know you want it' is really that much of an issue in a song - most children will think ice cream, presents, 'rewards' if they think anything at all. Most 'popular' music isn't really suitable for children if you actually listen to the words - which, funnily enough, very very few people do.

Rutters

you forgot condescension, patronising and just plain rude - I was going for all of them. cheerio

I had a quick Google of the lyrics - it's not just the charming split your ass in two reference, but also numerous references to a 'bitch in town' or bitches somewhere.

On Just Dance the lyrics come up on the screen so you can sing along, obviously don't want my dds singing along to that. It also contains Sexy And You Know It or something; think I'll be giving it a swerve.

It is a hideous, hideous song and has been played at both discos I've been at recently.

Ok, no tearing the ass in two in the 'clean' version. But plenty of 'you know you want it, but you're a good girl'. And the verse where he gives her pot.

I may hav ranted a wee bit at the other mothers.

What certificate is Just Dance? Dd has a 12 certificate Dance on Broadway that has some mild swearing

The radio edit omits the rap & has no swearing.

Still has the bits I referenced though...

Chestnuts - certificate E10+. My dc are all 9 and under.

I'm not sure that the Scout movement struggles to recruit beavers and cubs, My DS had his name down in 4 different packs and didn't get to go to beavers, only joining cubs when they opened a new pack... perhaps it is Scouts when the boys start to leave.

I now volunteer as a cubs helper. The sort of girls that enjoy cubs would hate brownies. There are also boys who don't fit into cubs and would probably like brownies. I really don't agree with excluding boys from brownies, though have read the rationale.

Regarding the song; It's not appropriate for a children's disco, however if you listened to lots of pop songs, the lyrics wouldn't be appropriate.

I'm a Brownie leader and, when I'm on the laptop, I'll link to the CBBC Newsround videos of my girls talking about the pressures on girls today. For me, they say the reason why we have a girl only space better than anyone else can. When the world is equal for girls and boys (or just the UK, that would do) I'll happily lead a mixed group. Even in the UK there are girls who wouldn't be allowed to go to a mixed group (though oddly the Scouts now run some parallel single sex groups).

Having said that, and being an incredibly enthusiastic advocate for Guiding, and having promised to be A Sister To All Guides, I have been known to notice that some more old-fashioned Guiders have not really got with the anti-sexism message and/or don't understand the modern world. I know Guiders who want it to be a girly, not a girl-only space, mainly full of glitter, pink and princesses. And many older Guiders will just pick a random CD that's in the charts (or will allow their 14 year old young leader to do it), without any awareness of the lyrics or their implications.

blackcats you may like to know there are more Guides (all sections) than Scouts (ditto) - even though we only have half the population to recruit from. Both movements suffer from a lack of qualified leaders, hence the waiting lists.

I'd be interested to listen to that drspouse.

There is a chronic lack of leaders for both movements, I was commenting on the view that girls were allowed in Scouting because of lack of interest from boys. I can only comment on cubs and beavers but the waiting lists are huge. Obviously, I don't have a problem with Scouts admitting girls, despite it meaning that my son missed out on attending beavers.

Regarding, girls not being allowed to attend brownies if boys attend,
are some boys from some communities not be allowed to attend cubs due to girls being allowed?

Just musings really. There are more important battles to fight for the equality of women.

I think you should offer to do the music next time. In an ideal world the leaders would have given it more thought but I've probably made some similar mistakes in the past and not realised, particularly when I was a young inexperienced Guider. You know maybe they need some help; most units do. You could make a valuable contribution if you can spare the time.

If they brownies hired an external DJ from a company, chances are the leaders didn't get much of a say in the set list. The DJ's are generally left to it, with some requests from children.