Just asked to comment on primary schoolSexual Education policy in Ireland. Your help needed.

[XXSex]

Can’t out myself too much.

Lots of resource books about transgender listed.

One - only one - book on female empowerment. None on male breaking down the sexist stereotypes apart from 3 (!!!!!) boy becomes girl books and now boy is happy because he can finally become himself.

I suspect that this is going to be a standard roll out in Irish primary schools (ages 4-12) and want to get my points across.

Help please with

• additional books on female and males books breaking stereotypes and ultimate acceptance.
  
• comments that I can give to the school.
  

They are bringing in concepts as transgender at 4-7 and not including anything about not having to confirm to what societal bonds there might be! FFS

[GeorginaEstonia]

Maybe you can find something good here: www.google.com/amp/s/www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/girl-power-how-the-new-feminism-has-embraced-children-s-literature-1.3411832%3fmode=amp

As an aside

There are a view valiant GC people on the JK Rowling thread on boards.ie trying talking at a brick wall about the bill to reduced the age for self ID. I’m sure they’d appreciate an extra voice if any of you have got the strength.

[MotherForkinShirtBalls]

Georgina, any chance you could link to the boards thread? I can't find my way round there at all.

I'm also concerned. ET school - so far things seem sensible but I'm going to volunteer for the board of management next year to keep an eye on things.

@pachyderm offered to connect GC people. I've no idea how I could help but I'd be happy to talk to others in real life.

[MotherForkinShirtBalls]

Sorry pachyderm, I very much volunteered you there! It didn't come out quite how I intended . Thank you for your offer on the other thread last night.

[GeorginaEstonia]

Sorry, I feel like I’ve hijacked the OPs thread.
I have connection to ET in the west and have some serious concerns.

www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2058039583&referrerid=930973

[7Days]

I can't fucking bear Boards since I called out some halitosian agitating for having sex with females in their prime - 14 - and got modded for it or whatever they call it

[4Naan]

Georgina, could you elaborate on your concerns about that ET school?

[EarlofEggMcMuffin]

Georgina,
that thread on Boards.????
Cod almighty.
What a load of (struggles to find right word) codswallop.

7Days "Well thank God the days are gone when men in dresses got to tell Mna na hEireann what our bodies are, what they are for and how to feel about them" ....

I am inarticulate with anger this evening.

How dare they conflate standing up for women's rights with transphobia.
How dare they conflate standing up for women's rights with racism.
Misogyny writ large.

[kenandbarbie]

Following as I'm in Dublin too.

[GeorginaEstonia]

When I get too angry I come back to the feminism board on mumsnet to soothe myself. Possibly I need a new hobby.

[notyourhandmaid]

This book should definitely be on any list: littleisland.ie/books/declaration-rights-boys-girls/

It's a flip book - one side is 'rights of girls', the other is 'rights of boys' and it's all anti-stereotype stuff - e.g. 'boys have the right to cry', 'girls have the right to make a mess'. And because it's a 2-in-1 deal it means that it doesn't get marginalised as 'only for girls' (because heaven forbid boys read about girls!).

This recent fairytale anthology is also pretty decent: www.bookdepository.com/Forgotten-Fairy-Tales-of-Brave-and-Brilliant-Girls-Various/9781474966429

This is for older than the 4-7 crew but it's a good one - the focus on inventions, discoveries etc makes it great for any kid interested in science while also highlighting women of the past doing cool stuff: www.obrien.ie/bright-sparks

This is not as good a book as the one mentioned above, but it covers a fair range of women and it's Irish-specific: www.obrien.ie/blazing-a-trail

And this would again be for older readers - 10+ - littleisland.ie/books/rocking-the-system/

[XXSex]

Haven’t disappeared.

StarStarTeachMe Yes it’s ET

7days - that is spot on re dresses. One religion for another. Indoctrinate. Don’t question. You will risk being shunned.

[XXSex]

Mayfayner it’s aimed at JI to 2nd and then a different syllabus for 3rd to 6th.

[XXSex]

Fab book recommendations. Any more about makes breaking the stereotypes? The one that they have listed is “my princess boy” but I can’t see the details to see if it’s about breaking stereotypes or trans ideology.

[XXSex]

Males even

[XXSex]

Right. I wrote to the principal regarding my concerns. Eek.

[RedLemon]

Well done!

This is the hill on which I, too, am prepared to die. Nothing worrying so far on the curriculum in DD’s school (West) and there’s an ace woman on the board of management who is of a similar mind to my own but I’m watching for it all time.

We have a copy of “My Body is Me” at home and I’ll be checking out some of the other recommendations here. I’m keeping the dismantling of stereotypes on a constant low level simmer here but prepared to whack it up to a rolling boil whenever necessary.

It’s a worrying time.

[EarlofEggMcMuffin]

Well done. Scary isn't it?

[XXSex]

The thing is I’m not sure if I’ll be listened to. If I’ll make a difference.

[MotherForkinShirtBalls]

Well done XXSex. You definitely can't make a difference by not saying something so sending the email is absolutely a start. Completely understand how daunting it is to do it though.

[Heygirlheyboy]

ROI teacher here. There had been no change to the RSE or Stay Safe programme. Is your school ushering this in for some reason? Nothing mentioned by department, curriculum advisors or principal. Question this.

[7Days]

Not on topic but listen to this absolute bullshit.
The womens council of Ireland retweeted louise o'neills article in the Examiner.

We're fucked I think

[Heygirlheyboy]

I should add that I have had my ears open and I am expecting that something will be put forward and I expect it to be fairly depressing and I am ready to be calmly rational and speak up.

[Heygirlheyboy]

Sorry op I see you have queried it. Will be interested to hear response (and would love to know the school!!)

[MotherForkinShirtBalls]

The women's council fell a long time ago. Although I see on twitter today they had a conference about "gender based" violence, ie women being abused by...let's take a guess.

Didn't see Louise O'Neill's article. Is it twaw? Such a shame if it is, The Surface Breaks is an absolutely beautiful piece of writing. I can't bring myself to read Asking for It but from what I've heard it's fantastic roo.