Comments on: Do I Have a Sexist Son? http://writefromkaren.com/2008/09/23/do-i-have-a-sexist-son/ Sat, 31 Jul 2010 17:05:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: erin http://writefromkaren.com/2008/09/23/do-i-have-a-sexist-son/#comment-2487 erin Wed, 24 Sep 2008 06:44:42 +0000 http://writefromkaren.wordpress.com/?p=2916#comment-2487 This is a really insightful post. I would say that if he is only 15, he has loads of time to learn about what is appropriate and funny, before you can worry that he is sexist. I wonder how much culture has an impact- my husband laughed at the first two of your jokes. But he is from a very traditional Latin American culture and his mom is pretty traditional. So he was raised in an environment where women were in the kitchen and didn't mow the lawn. Thus, he sometimes forgets that I didn't grow up in the same culture and thus don't instinctively think my role is "dora" (lavadora/cocinadora cleaner/cooker). It's a touchy subject sometimes and it opens up a big huge can of worms if not dealt with, so I agree with JayMonster- good for you for talking to him about it now. This is a really insightful post. I would say that if he is only 15, he has loads of time to learn about what is appropriate and funny, before you can worry that he is sexist. I wonder how much culture has an impact- my husband laughed at the first two of your jokes. But he is from a very traditional Latin American culture and his mom is pretty traditional. So he was raised in an environment where women were in the kitchen and didn’t mow the lawn. Thus, he sometimes forgets that I didn’t grow up in the same culture and thus don’t instinctively think my role is “dora” (lavadora/cocinadora cleaner/cooker). It’s a touchy subject sometimes and it opens up a big huge can of worms if not dealt with, so I agree with JayMonster- good for you for talking to him about it now.

]]> By: Kailani http://writefromkaren.com/2008/09/23/do-i-have-a-sexist-son/#comment-2485 Kailani Wed, 24 Sep 2008 06:33:27 +0000 http://writefromkaren.wordpress.com/?p=2916#comment-2485 I don't think he's sexist . . . just a teenage boy. As long as you explained to him that it is just a joke, I'm sure it will be fine. I don’t think he’s sexist . . . just a teenage boy. As long as you explained to him that it is just a joke, I’m sure it will be fine.

]]> By: JayMonster http://writefromkaren.com/2008/09/23/do-i-have-a-sexist-son/#comment-2481 JayMonster Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:25:15 +0000 http://writefromkaren.wordpress.com/?p=2916#comment-2481 No, you don't have a sexist son... but the only reason is because of you. It is unfortunate. He got these jokes from a friend... a friend that probably heard them from a father, or uncle, and left unchecked (unlike you did), these will fester into tomorrow's sexists as the roles just go on perpetuating themselves. Good on you for not going overboard and just winding up appearing "too uptight" to your son, but also for setting him straight, as he will understand that just because it is a "joke" doesn't mean it doesn't hurt the person that it is making fun of. No, you don’t have a sexist son… but the only reason is because of you.

It is unfortunate. He got these jokes from a friend… a friend that probably heard them from a father, or uncle, and left unchecked (unlike you did), these will fester into tomorrow’s sexists as the roles just go on perpetuating themselves.

Good on you for not going overboard and just winding up appearing “too uptight” to your son, but also for setting him straight, as he will understand that just because it is a “joke” doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt the person that it is making fun of.

]]> By: Life, or Something Like it http://writefromkaren.com/2008/09/23/do-i-have-a-sexist-son/#comment-2479 Life, or Something Like it Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:36:54 +0000 http://writefromkaren.wordpress.com/?p=2916#comment-2479 I absolutely agree! I absolutely agree!

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