Explaining Sexism to a 4 Year Old...

[becka]

DH and DS are watching the Daytona 500 pre-show stuff this afternoon. A few minutes ago DS was watching and asked "Why are there no girl drivers?". DH and I really didn't know what to say. How do you explain a "good 'ole boy" club to a 4 year old. I told him it was because "the boys are not nice to the girls who try to drive". Of course that got the inevitable "Why?" response. How do you explain something like this to a 4 year old. Is this something that you just can't explain?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

It is no different that football, baseball, basketball, fishing, hunting, bowling, golf, etc...Men dominate sports.

I guess you could say that people want to watch men compete in sports instead of women.

 

[LaraK]

Tell him that women have more sense than to drive in circles for absolutely no reason....when we drive, we head to the mall!

In all seriousness....I'd say that sometimes it's harder for women to do things than men because men don't think they can do the things and the news and tv tell them they shouldn't try. Then I say that women can do anything they want, sometimes they have to work harder to get there. That's what I've said to DD when she's asked me questions like that.

 

[VirtuallyMe]

Actually there are some female drivers- of course they don't have the sponsorship of the big players- but there are girls who drive NASCAR and all other race car driving.

Sorry I can't think of her name but there was one in the Daytona Shoot Out- she just didn't get one of the 4 open spots...

 

[Phrebert]

Tell your DS not to be sexist,
Broads hate it.

 

[JR6ooo4]

DH and DS are watching the Daytona 500 pre-show stuff this afternoon. A few minutes ago DS was watching and asked "Why are there no girl drivers?". DH and I really didn't know what to say. How do you explain a "good 'ole boy" club to a 4 year old. I told him it was because "the boys are not nice to the girls who try to drive". Of course that got the inevitable "Why?" response. How do you explain something like this to a 4 year old. Is this something that you just can't explain?

That is not true at all. They are only "not nice" to the ugly ones! hehehehee Just kidding.

Mikeeee

 

[Kimmie5870]

I agree that it's a tough sport for women to get into but to be fair you can't blame it all on the men.Well, you can. But if a woman wants to do it bad enough all they have to do is get there stuff together,get a sponsor and qualify,it's just a haeck of a lot harder.

"the boys are not nice to the girls who try to drive"

I'm not flaming you but this statement just seems to scream "cop out"( for women,not you) to me

Here's some information on the women who have raced Nascar

Sara Christian in 1949-1950 - 7 races
Louise Smith 1949-1950- 1 races
Ethel Mobley 1949 - 2 races
Ann Bunselmyer 1950 - 1 race
Ann Chester 1950 - 2 races
Marian Pagan 1954 - 1 race
Fifi Scott 1955 - 2 races
Goldie Parson 1965 - 1 race
Janet Guthrie 1976-1980 - 33 races
Christine Beckers 1977 - 1 race
Lella Lombardi 1977 - 1 race
Robin McCall 1982 - 2 races
Patty Moise 1987-1989 - 5 races
Shwna Robinson 2001-02 - 7+ races

 

[freckles and boo]

It is probably harder explaining chauvinism and sexism to a boy. When my daughter asks questions like that I tell her that she can do whatever she wants if she works hard enough and anybody who thinks otherwise is wrong. In the long run that might not be true and she may encounter idiots who try to stereotype her, but we are not going to limit her dreams at six. We don't accepts "isms" in our house. She firmly believes that boys aren't as smart as girls anyway and I have had to correct her - there are some smart boys out there like Daddy. She is very observant and we have to tell her that even though some jobs are more often done by men, like being a firefighter, there are women who do those jobs, too. She isn't all that influenced by what other people think anyway.

 

[momof2inPA]

My son asked at that age why there was never a woman president. I just agreed with him that it wasn't fair.

 

[CEDmom]

It's a great opportunity for a history lesson. Explain to him how 100 years ago women couldn't vote, few worked outside the home, single women were considered old maids, no women held positions of power, very few went to college etc. Explain that while we've "come come a long way baby" there are still some doors that have not yet opened for women. Maybe by the time he's grown up that won't be the case.

 

[shortbun]

I think I would have just said, "it's not fair is it?" and let it go at that. I'm a feminist and I think 4yo boys are too young to hear 'men are pigs." lol! My son is getting a very clear education regarding equality. We have total equality in our household, his school tries very hard to land in equal ground and all of our friends feel the same way. Sometimes our family of origin is a challenge but we shrug it off and say things like, "Grandma just doesn't understand the way we do things" or "aren't we lucky that we know how to treat each other better than that!?" My son is almost 12.