I used to laugh maniacally when my son would call Percy of Thomas the Tank Engine fame "Pussy."
I have an adolescent male sense of humour.
I suspect you will enjoy these: http://www.buzzfeed.com/mikespohr/hilariously-mispronounced-words-by-toddlers
You think I was making an assumption?.. Isn't that making an assumption?...:)
I read your very direct implication that I would be unable to tutor my [hypothetical] daughter/kid in "math[,] physics and engineering" (since you were so generously offering to help and all). Since you had no basis for that call, yes, that was an assumption. And that is a conclusion of a logical train of reasoning, and not a blind assumption with no basis.
Also I shared our little talk with several lady engineering friends and we had a good laugh. Thanks for that.
Yes I can see how you got there but that was not in my line of thinking, in fact the thought makes me cringe cus its exactly opposite to who I am.. You see I am from the UK where the "miss World" and all its ghastly ilk have not been shown on TV since about 1972. We are (or at least my socio-economic group) very sensitive to anything that tells our young ladies they should fit into a typical 1950's housewife stereotype.
Dolls to me represent at least part of that stereotype.. I.e Girls play with dolls and boys with mechanical things. When i was at university in the early 80's only 3 out of about 100 of my class were female and I have always thought this to be a tragedy.. We as a nation were missing out on the different perspectives that female professionals could offer.
Now you have also joined the growing list of friends who have Phd's and I "only" have a mere Masters degree... dammit!...:)
Frank
So, question. Why exactly is it superior to have girls know how to change oil instead of washing dishes? Frankly, I'm going to wash the dishes a lot more often in my life than I will change the oil on a car, as will everyone else. Both dish-washing and oil-changing are basic life-maintenance tasks. The fact that men have been more likely to change the oil doesn't give it some magical halo that makes it better, which is what you're implying.
And statistically, most girls are going to grow up and become mothers. Yours might not, but as a group, they will. What exactly is so harmful about spending some of their childhood modeling the behavior that will probably be a significant part of their adult lives? My mother has been the main breadwinner in my family for most of the marriage and she owns a successful business. She still counts raising us as her most significant life's work, which is understandable. Motherhood matters. So does fatherhood. So what is wrong with either boys or girls modeling it?
And why the hell are the contributions of women tragically wasted if we're not half your engineering class? It's not like all those women who weren't being engineers weren't contributing in other important and valuable ways to society. Mothers literally continue civilization. Pink-collar jobs where women cluster are a vital part of society and you and I both depend on. We women are adding value, even if it's not in the way you seem to have decided is acceptable for us.
Dish washing is a basic function of life. I mean its a pretty basic living skill. What would happen if we all stopped washing dishes? well a lot of nasty and inconvenient things might happen. Just like if we all stopped doing basic normal functions of life lots of nasty and inconvenient things would happen. would anyone really care? the health department might but that's about it.
Dish washing is not a "skill" it's something that EVERYONE has to do. just like breathing and peeing and taking out the trash. somewhere along the way we decided that being an adult and doing our chores was a skill, like going out and getting educated and having a real job. the bar has now been set to, if you can perform the basic functions of life then by golly your just doing fabulous!
Your mom knew that performing the basic functions of life did in fact NOTHING to put food on the table and keep her kids cared for and ran a successful business. Way to go! that's the spirit.
if you don't wash your dishes you won't have clean dishes.
if you don't change the oil in your car it's going to have problems that will cost money. you might pay somebody to change the oil in your car for you, or being a MUSTACHIAN you did it your self and saved a ton of money by performing a basic function of life all by yourself. (i just love them big girl panties).
I know it grieves you to see a MAN support education. It really throws a wrench into the man hating when they go and do that. Theres not many people more respectful, supportive and this guy so plug on with your war on women's rights. your headed in the right direction!
basic funtions of life do not discriminate gender. moldy dishes and blown up engines can happen to anyone :)
