Do Father-Daughter Dances Promote Gender Discrimination? (The ACLU Thinks So)

by SodaHead Living Posted 2012/09/23 20:42:35

Related Topics: Father-Daughter Dances, Mother-Son Ballgames, ACLU, American Civil Liberties Union, State Senate, Election, Banned, Gender Discrimination

Read More

1,580 votes
Read all 1,189 opinions
Lightning Report View Results and Demographics + View Demographics

Loading Demographics... Click an icon to see demographic results Display unknown and private
	Yes	129 votes	8%
	No	1,451 votes	92%

Father-daughter dances and mother-son ballgames are now a thing of the past—at least in the Cranston Public Schools district in Rhode Island. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) targeted these longstanding traditions after a single mother filed a complaint when her daughter was prevented from attending a father-daughter dance in Cranston.

Apparently, the district’s hands are tied because Rhode Island’s gender-discrimination laws do not exempt such events—thought federal laws do. Strangely, the policy change banning these events was apparently made months ago. However, it only began to receive widespread media attention lat week when Sean Gately, a candidate for state Senate, announced that he would reinstate such events if elected.

The ACLU said in a statement:

"The controversy that has suddenly arisen in a political campaign over father-daughter dances in Cranston is old news -- the matter was amicably resolved with school officials over four months ago. And it was resolved for a simple reason: the school district recognized that in the 21st Century, public schools have no business fostering the notion that girls prefer to go to formal dances while boys prefer baseball games. This type of gender stereotyping only perpetuates outdated notions of 'girl' and 'boy' activities and is contrary to federal law.

"[Parent-teacher organizations] remain free to hold family dances and other events, but the time has long since passed for public school resources to encourage stereotyping from the days of Ozzie and Harriet. Not every girl today is interested in growing up to be Cinderella -- not even in Cranston. In fact, one of them might make a great major league baseball player someday.

"We commend the school district for its resolution of the matter, and are sorry to see some people turning it into a political football -- a game that they may think only boys should be interested in."

So SodaHeads, what do you think? Do father-daughter dances promote gender discrimination?

+48

Add a comment above

Skylaris Alanis 2012/09/23 21:05:13 (edited)

No

+43
It promotes bonding between girls and their fathers.
>> See Replies

More polls by SodaHead Living

Hula girl - Friends not Fol... 2012/09/25 12:40:07

No

+1
One of the best memories of my life are with my dad at those special events. ACLU butt out.

reply
Nomad Telepath A.M.O.R.C 2012/09/25 12:07:04

No

Can dads win. There is nothing wrong with fathers spending time with their little girls.

reply
glj to Nomad T... 2012/09/25 14:23:24

AMEN.

reply
Nomad T... to glj 2012/09/25 14:45:50

You know what. Whoever runs for president that supports men's rights when it comes to custody and child support will get my vote.

reply
Gia 2012/09/25 07:01:30

No

Oh brother!!!

reply
Spider20 2012/09/25 07:00:58

No

Stupid assed adults like the ACLU keep taking little things like this away from children/families.....and so much gets taken away from kids so they have nothing to do and sometimes wind up getting into trouble (don't have a good relationship with their parents) ....then those same stupid assed adults scratch their brainless heads and can't figure out why kids act that way.....yep, it happens sometimes....not all the time....but it does happen

reply
Chris La 2012/09/25 05:35:07

No

Ah, the A.C.L.U.....I wondered when we would be hearing from America's favorite losers.

reply
Bill to Chris La 2012/09/26 19:27:25

We got them suing over check-boxes on ballots now.
http://www.aclu.org/voting-ri...
Citizenship Checkbox Unlawful, Voting Rights Coalition Argues In Lawsuit
DETROIT – In a lawsuit filed today in federal court, a voting rights coalition is challenging Secretary of State Ruth Johnson’s controversial “citizenship checkbox” as unconstitutional and a violation of federal and state law.

American Civil Laws Usurpers - we never give up until all illegals can vote for Obama.

reply
bt sedlock to Chris La 2012/10/12 22:54:11

They must desperate to find stupid issues like this to speak out against.

reply
MQ-American Values Again (AVA) 2012/09/25 05:20:05

No

+4
Good God.. these fools will do anything to disseminate family values! What is this crazy politically correct world coming to!

reply
Bill to MQ-Amer... 2012/09/26 19:20:17 (edited)

+2
I know what you mean. I took one of my young daughter (she was 6 then) to a father-daughter dance. It was so much fun. She got a real kick out of standing on my feet and me lifting my legs way up. She laughed so hard. It will always be remembered by me...and her.

reply
MQ-Amer... to Bill 2012/09/26 22:09:14

+1
I'm so glad you/your daughter have that memory ... it will last forever ... even long after you're gone ....

reply
Bill to MQ-Amer... 2012/09/26 23:24:08

Thanks for that. It did choke me up...especially the dancing foot-on-foot.
When I do go, I want my daughters to be there holding my hand. I only hope it's possible.
Here is a video that always brings tears to my eyes. I can't help it. It reminds me of seeing my daughters grow up from infancy to womanhood. I was and am so proud of them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?...

reply
nobiggov 2012/09/25 05:17:15

No

+3
ACLU would approval removal of the words father, mother, son, daughter from the English language because we should all be considered equal and the same and have absolutely no discernable differences.........basically "It" people. Everyone would be just an "it." They believe in this philosophy on every conceivable level....same with No right and No wrong...a mass murdered is not "wrong"....just misunderstood..

reply
kobidobidog 2012/09/25 04:48:30

No

+3
People need to be godly minding their own business,.sheesh.

reply
wtw 2012/09/25 04:45:31

No

+3
So much ignorance and PC crap and the left close minded bigots are the problem!

reply
Ann 2012/09/25 04:43:59

No

+1
We need to stand up to the ACLU for the crap they are!

reply
Gabsters<3 2012/09/25 03:37:24

No

reply
Sarina 2012/09/25 03:03:18

No

+1
No, these dances have been going on for years, it is a tradition. So why change things because of some people choices, its their decision, so that have to deal with it.

reply
shadow76 2012/09/25 02:21:58

No

+4
The ACLU is a plague on society!

reply
Havebntohvn 2012/09/25 02:11:24

No

That is absolutely ridiculous.

reply
Larre 2012/09/25 02:04:50

No

It may be a long standing tradition, but they get to know each of the genders better. These dances are a learning experience, not a form of discrimination. The only objection that I may have is that it might encourage older men to marry younger, more beautiful women. A practice during the times of Noah, and just after, that bred genetically superior human beings, known as the Nephilim. Something that the Baby Boomers are currently engaging in with Generations X and Y.

reply
sue to Larre 2012/09/26 13:11:38

I think if a man tends toward younger women it won't be because of a dance. People like what they like for what ever reason, they are going to like that type no matter what.

reply
sue 2012/09/25 01:28:36

No

+1
If a household is Mom/Mom or DaD/Dad can't they find someone to fill in. It is a shame to take away the innocence of those dances, they form memories and bonds. Why does everything today have to be a problem.

reply
glj to sue 2012/09/25 14:25:06

+2
My mom, a single mom, had 3 sons. Anytime there was something that was father/son, one of my uncles stood in.

reply
Jen S. to sue 2012/09/25 14:44:34

+2
I agree. There is no reason a grandfather, uncle, Godfather, or older cousin can't bring the girl to the dance, if she really wants to go. If the family is isolated, perhaps they shouldn't worry so much about the dance and just take it as a night to connect with each other - turn off the tv, the computer, cell phones, etc., and just play board games and enjoy each other's company.

reply
Kidasha 2012/09/25 01:06:30

No

+1
But I think it should be a choice. Girls shouldn't have to go to a formal dance while guys go to a baseball game. Kids should be able to go to whatever event with which parent they want

reply
Jen S. to Kidasha 2012/09/25 14:46:26

My thoughts exactly! If a son who was interested in the performing arts wanted to go to the dance, he should be allowed to bring his mother (or aunt, grandmom, etc.) and a girl should be able to attend any parent/child sports related activities. :)

reply
philly 2012/09/25 00:35:17

No

There has been father daughter dances for years and years and years it is a nice way for a father and daughter to spend some time together especially in the age we live now where most communication is done by texting IM and phone but the aclu has a problem with just about anything

reply
Your Favorite Nerd Guru 2012/09/25 00:21:18

No

+1
It's where dads get to spend the night with their princess...

reply
☠ Live Free Or Die ☠ 2012/09/25 00:07:48

No

I read about this on Reddit, and I almost threw up all over my keyboard. The level of Butthurt that the ACLU has achieved is too high for my stomach to handle.

reply
Dub 2012/09/24 23:46:07

No

+1
The only thing it promotes is a fun evening for a daughter to do something different with her father, or other father figure in her life.

reply
martin28 2012/09/24 23:32:23

No

This is just another asinine "renovation" America is going through. Who would have thought it would be a legal issue for a school to hold a dance for daughters and fathers?

reply
BabyBear 2012/09/24 23:06:04

No

Geez!!! Really people. It's cute & loving. Next the ACLU is going to try ban MANicures.

reply
Tic-Toc 2012/09/24 23:05:29 (edited)

No

Not NO but HELL NO. This is where our country is headed. A man and a Woman produce a child and then have to hand the child over to the state.

reply
Tarheel 2012/09/24 23:00:38

No

+1
I've always thought they were very charming. My daughter and my (now ex) husband would go for the Girl Scouts Father-Daughter Banquet and both loved it. One time when she was in 2nd grade he was working out of town and wasn't able to go. She very dramatically said (as she held the picture from the year before), "It was the best night of my life and now I'll never have another one." She was so upset.

reply
*K'eim*h3reg' *Peh2u *Meg' 2012/09/24 22:38:29

Yes

+2
But who gives a crap? Since when was discrimination, especially when harmless, immoral or illegal?

reply
Tim Terror 2012/09/24 22:09:15

No

+5

reply
Any 2012/09/24 21:40:35

Yes

+1
It's not really gender discrimination but the dance should allow for girls without fathers to come along with a friend's family or whatever guardian she has. It's not fair to cut the young girl out just because her father ran off.

reply
Melissa... to Any 2012/09/24 22:14:44

+5
They DO allow for it.

reply