Do Father-Daughter Dances Promote Gender Discrimination? (The ACLU Thinks So)
SodaHead Living
2012/09/23 20:42:35
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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 This type of gender stereotyping only perpetuates outdated notions of 'girl' and 'boy' activities and is contrary to federal law.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?
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?
Read More: http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na...
Would there be a dance for fathers and sons, mothers and daughters or mothers and sons? Heck no, because slow dancing is typically a romantic activity in most contexts. Only people of the opposite sex can dance together- apparently, therefore this activity is based on a hetero-normative social custom. This feels creepy now doesn't it?
It's not actually a horrific or dangerous idea, but I really wonder why everyone is so afraid to think more about such things. Every idea must come from somewhere- right?
Banning the dance is stupid though- and the girl and her mother should have been allowed to attend. Why exclude a child from a fun activity?
I mentioned that do not necessarily support the ban, but I do think that it promotes gender discrimination.
There's a reason why they're called "Father-daughter dances". She can go start her own "Mother-daughter dance" club instead of wreaking a wonderful thing.
The Single Mother Could RENT a Father for the Dance...Let her Go With Her Best Friend and Her Father...Antything, Other than to Deny The Rest of the School District The Triditions they have Come To Enjoy and Look Forward to...
They Should Demand the Resignation Of All School Board Members...
I hope it doesn't mean that the gays and lesbians are going to dictate the rest of the population THEIR life style and their rules?!?
How very disgusting to even raise the question about the gender discrimination!!.
This is totally nuts and infuriated me. The state officials who cancelled the even due to the dancing must have their heads examined. They are incurably sick!
I have always went to father daughter dances.
Both my older daughters attended a Father/Daughter dance with their Daddy when they were tiny Girl Scouts. It was precious and it made them feel very special. How dare the ACLU!! How dare they attack such a sweet tradition.