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January 15, 2008
WaPo Gripes about Dangerous and Daring Books
The Washington Post disapproves of The Dangerous Book for Boys and The Daring Book for Girls, popular though they may be. The authors are given credit for encouraging kids to go out and do something instead of playing video games, but—
the books also serve as a reminder that we still haven't figured out what gender equality means or how to prepare kids to live it in the world they will assume. "Dangerous" limits boys to tasks, ideas and ways of being associated with boyhood, neglecting knowledge about girlhood that would serve them well as men working and raising children alongside women. "Daring," on the other hand, urges girls to learn both female and male skills and lore — a good thing for advancement into what is still a man's world, but dangerously close to an endorsement of the Superwoman idea.
WaPo gasps in horror that the boys' book even covers "of all things, 'hunting and cooking a rabbit.'" Presumably a more enlightened book would teach boys how to prepare a vegan salad.
Another flaw: boys only read about other boys, whereas a girls read about the Wright Brothers. Perhaps we could correct this by rewriting history to make them the Wright Sisters, who had to dress as men to defend themselves from paternalistic phallocentrism.
WaPo doesn't want girls encouraged to be ambitious, because it might lead to "stress, depression, substance abuse and severe sports injuries." What's needed is for boys to be more feminine and girls to stop trying so hard:
How do we help boys learn to live easily, even thrive, in an environment less constricted by gender? How do we help girls understand the difference between the confidence that says "I can do anything" and the lack of confidence that says "I must do everything"?
In short, how do we ensure that they grow up to be squishy blobs of liberal goo, whose self-esteem is based on empty rhetoric? Maybe by taking away their books and handing them the Washington Post.
On a tip from V the K.
Posted by Van Helsing at January 15, 2008 8:24 AM
Comments
Presumably a more enlightened book would teach boys how to prepare a vegan salad.
Funny you should mention. In the UK, scouts can earn merit badges for making fruit salad. How appropriate.
Posted by: V the K at January 15, 2008 10:01 AM
"squishy blobs of liberal goo"--that perfectly describes several college professors I had.
I just hope moonbats don't catch on to this anti-ambition thing, turn it into a health scare ("It causes stress!!!"), and demand government regulation of ambition.
Posted by: Anonymous at January 15, 2008 6:05 PM
