"Lovely ladies" xxx in school newsletter

[Choughed]

So my DD's school has just received excellent results in a particular audit. The team that delivered the project was all female. The news was included in the school newsletter to parents with the final line "Thank you so much lovely ladies - you make all the difference in the world xxx"

WIBU to send this email to the head of school?

Dear Head

I hope you are well. Perhaps you could pass this to the appropriate person.

It was great to read that the school received excellent results in the recent audit but was it necessary to finish the news piece with "lovely ladies" and "xxx"? It comes across as sexist and patronising. I doubt that if the project was completed by a team of men they would have been referred to as "handsome gents" with triple kisses as a sign off. I'm sure that the staff would prefer to be recognised for their professional skills rather than their charming demeanour.

It's a small point but children notice these things, and we shouldn't be reinforcing the notion that women need to be "lovely" to be successful.

Kind regards,

Choughed

But lovely chaps doesn't illiterate at all so would never be used, and failing to find an alternative, night night

Aw, well done lovely ladies. They probably passed the audit due to their feminine wiles and excellent tea making skills so deserve to be congratulated.

This is exactly the sort of thing that gets my back up and I would write an email about. Well done OP.

The kisses annoy me more.

They could just have said something like, "Thank you so much, project team." No need to mention anyone's gender. Or to snog them. Kisses on a professional type of newsletter??

Actually, the first thing I thought when I saw the thread subject was Les Miserables - the song Lovely Ladies is all about prostitutes down on the docks, which is another reason not to use the phrase - I may not be the only person who has that collocation.

Me too, EBearhug!

I don't think I'd have taken issue with it by way of a letter, but I'd probably have tutted and rolled my eyes. To me, it doesn't strike me as deeply sexist, just a bit 'off'. Like so many things that crop up day to day that I let slide by, that perhaps I shouldn't.

No reply from the head of school, I didn't particularly expect one. No repeat of kisses or lovely ladies in the latest newsletter. A few other parents said to me that they felt it was off so I am pleased I pointed it out.