I gave all my classes this riddle this week - 3 kids got the answer.

[IHeartKingThistle]

I teach secondary English. Last week as a starter I gave all my classes (Yr 7s, 8s and 9s) some riddles to solve and this was one of them:

A man and his son are in a car accident and are rushed to hospital. When they arrive the doctor looks at the boy and exclaims 'I can't operate on him, he's my son!' How can this be?

Some kids guessed that the boy had 2 dads in a gay relationship, which could technically be correct of course. But it only occurred to 3 kids out of nearly 100 that the doctor could be a woman. Not one of the Year 7s thought of it.

In this day and age? I couldn't believe it!

They got a nice little lecture on feminism as a bonus that lesson

I was watching a 5 aside tournament last night with dd ( who does actually play football). A lady was standing next to us with 2 boys aged about 11/12.
The ball shot towards us and the boys screamed. We all laughed and then the Mum said “ you screamed like a girl “
Dd(13) said , well THIS girl didn’t scream, I just kicked it back!
They slunk off, I was proud.
DS (9) also pointed out to his teacher that the unicorn cupcakes I sent in for the bake sale last week were for everyone and I hadn’t made them “for the girls” like she said.

DH did not get this at all! He's looking suitably sheepish.

I just asked my sons who are in Y2 and Y8.

The youngest said 'Because the dad is the doctor too?' and when I clarified that no, they were two separate people he was just baffled and had no idea.

My almost 13yo immediately said ' Because the boy has two Dads who are gay' and looked very pleased with himself for guessing (he thought) correctly.

When I pointed out the answer they both went 'OH!!!' and looked very embarrassed . I thought my daily radical feminist rants and teachings had actually sunk in somewhere. Clearly not! I'm not impressed.

I actually think that the way it’s written is designed to trip you up. It’s man, boy, doctor. I think if you said a Dad and his daughter etc you’d get many more people saying ‘It’s her MUM’ it’s leading you to think Male.

Ooh interesting. Whose got a kid they haven't asked yet so we can try it out?

Just asked my six year old son. Within a second "it's his mum". Good boy.

Just asked my DD9 and DS7 straight away DS said "because he is HER son", he got it.
DD said "The man was the doctor and wasn't hurt in the accident".
Need to have discussions with my DD.

DS1 just tried to claim that when I spoke the doctor's words, I used a 'deeper voice' and that's why he assumed gay dads

@IHeartKingThistle a similar thing that demonstrates the same problem is to ask someone (Applies to adults as well) to draw

a doctor
a lawyer
a judge

etc etc.

Everyone draws a man.

I just asked my children

14 year old son "clearly the mum - that's stupid - why did you bother to ask me"

13 year old daughter "the mum - duh"

So, they got it right and I got a bunch of teenage attitude

I need parenting tips from you people who have children that got it right.

I thought I'd done all the right things!

OH didn't get it and went through some serious mental gymnastics to justify the grandfather being the doctor .

DD (6) needed some rephrasing to actually understand what the question was and then said "Ahhhh I get it now,she's the mum!"

the older I get the more I realize that life is a crap shoot

you do your best on the parental rollercoaster - you hang on, keep your arms inside the carriage, and try not to throw up on the person next to you

I've used that loads of times and many of them get that it's a woman - though I do work in a girl's school !

DD9 didn't really understand, even after DH had (eventually) worked out the answer -"but WHY can't she operate on him?"

My 6 and 8 yr old said mum
Straight away

Just asked DD who is just 6. And she said...
‘Oh is doctor the little boys mummy then?!’

My work is done 😁

Reminds me of this

It's a good test of unconscious bias.

However my (white collar) workplace is now majority female from middle management downwards. The higher level management are more male but this is changing over time. Must work meetings I have, men are in the minority.

I did then ask DD if she would like to be a doctor and she said

‘No, it’s all too picky and runny and smelly’ 😂

My 12 and 15 year old suggested a gay couple. I’m actually horrified as I am a staunch feminist. It’s been a good learning opportunity though.

3 DS’s 10,7,7
Eldest - two dads :(
Middle - no idea
Youngest - his mum

Ffs we had a conversation earlier about colours because according to them all pink is for girls so they hate pink.
We are absolutely not like that in this house... 😡
It’s just ingrained in them, it’s made me cross and sad in one go!

Mine are in bed, I can’t wait to ask them in the morning and report back. DS3 (5) is a right little misogynist who’s horrified if a girl has short hair.

DH got it right first time

Going to text it to my parents now and see what they say.

DD7 got it straight away which I'm pleased about!

My son recently spent 36 hours in an a&e and was treated by male nurses and female doctors. Several of each but consistently male nurses and female doctors. I was so pleased not least because he had his preconceptions (not from me, from books and tv I have to conclude!) Corrected.