My 11 year old nephew: "because it's sexist"

[cui bono]

Thank you very much!

I was hanging out with my nephews and their little sister yesterday and they were telling a story about how one of the boys got scared about something and my niece said "he screamed like a little girl". Now this is my 9.5 year old niece who is athletic and who once asked me "where are the girls riding those" when I was showing her videos of this cool water ski/jet pack thing people were starting to ride. Her mom and I promptly agreed with her and said good for her to think that way.

So I was explaining to her that by saying that she was making it seem that all boys were supposed to not be scared unless they were acting like little girls who were supposed to be weak and frail. That is was okay for boys to be scared and some girls don't get as scared as some boys, etc... and as I was talking my nephew chimed in, "because it's sexist". And I said that's right! I was so proud. And so happy that they are being raised right so hopefully the influences of others won't take over completely. I'm sure my niece has heard other kids saying that sort of thing, followed by laughter, which is why she says it now too, but hopefully with guidance she'll keep her core idea of equality intact. She's a very strong girl.

[guillaumeb]

1. some will call you hypercritical

but speech defines things. How we speak of things determines how we see things. I am absolutely in agreement that this type of casual sexism, and all other expressions of inequality, should be challenged whenever it is heard/witnessed.

How old is the nephew?

[cui bono]

2. 11! Isn't that great?

And yes, there's no reason they can't learn the effects of their words at any age. Proof of that was shown when my nephew said "sexist". I wasn't using that word, I was just explaining how that phrase defined girls and boys as different, making the girls weak and the boys strong.

[guillaumeb]

4. makes one more hopeful

for the next generation.

[cui bono]

5. Yes, indeed. n/t

[TexasProgresive]

3. Good for your nephew. I once said something similar to what your neice said about myself

I was in our barn and was opening a gate. I did not see a copperhead snake on the top of the gate. I saw it about 2 inches from my face. I stumbled backwards a let out a shriek that I described later as being higher than any little girl could make.

[cui bono]

6. It's easy to slip up. I still catch myself at times with certain things. n/t