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Liebaral professor decries virtues of "Wife School"
'Wife' School - Would You Send Your Daughter?
Here we have a perfectly respectable summer camp aimed at teaching preteen girls to the virtues of a woman's place in the home. Not surprisingly, a liberal sociologist thinks it's "sexist" and that good Christian wives are actually "miserable".
Here we have a perfectly respectable summer camp aimed at teaching preteen girls to the virtues of a woman's place in the home. Not surprisingly, a liberal sociologist thinks it's "sexist" and that good Christian wives are actually "miserable".
by Bethany Sanders Jun 19th 2009 6:00PM
Categories: Teens & tweens, In the news
Make Over Camp for your little Betty Draper.
We have a handful of etiquette-related rules at our house, like these, for example:
We also have a couple that I never thought -- pre-parenthood -- I'd ever have to say out loud, like the most recent: We wear underwear every day.
As parents, we created these rules to help our girls become civilized human beings who will hopefully know how to make their way in the world, but according concert pianist Wonny Song, civilized isn't enough -- at least not for girls.
Song, co-director of a music and fine arts camp in Montreal, was so impressed by the manners of a friend's teenage daughter at a dinner party that he has started a new summer program called Make Over Camp.
The goal of the two week class, which is geared to girls ages 10 to 14, is to teach things like table manners, posture, conversation, fashion and make up and hostessing skills. "We see a lot of young ladies who can benefit from a makeover program," says camp co-creator Angela Chan. "They need to develop their presence."
Apparently, "presence" involves being able to put flowers into a vase (decorating a table is one of the course topics) and knowing which fork goes where. A lot of people are critical of the camp, including sociologist Marc LaFrance. "It might as well be called Wife Camp!," LaFrance tells "MacLeans." "Is Betty Draper happy on 'Mad Men?' " No! She's miserable! Things like makeover camp send the message that a girl's value lies in being entertaining, ornamental, totally innocuous, accommodating and polite. I'm also concerned because it targets girls. Where are the boys?"
Yes, indeed, where are the boys? "There was zero per cent interest from the boys," says Song. "Look, this is not a boot camp to reinforce the notion that girls should stay home. It's not sexist. We would love to include boys, but what can we do?"
Well, Song and Chang could start by creating a class that teaches etiquette to both sexes equally, one that doesn't send the wrong message to one and exclude the other. There may not be too many boys out there who are willing to admit they're interested in table settings, but there are plenty of teens -- boys and girls, alike -- who could use a refresher in manners. Marc McCreavy, one of the program's instructors, defends the camp by saying, "It's important to learn about appropriate topics of conversation and appropriate attire." Yes -- but important for girls and boys.
While I think a camp like this sends the wrong message to girls in general, I suspect there are girls out there who might be interested in it. It's like princess dresses. Moms worry when their little girls want to wear princess dresses -- day in and day out -- that they aren't getting enough exposure to gender neutral activities. But some little girls just want to be princesses, no matter how many trucks you stuff in their toy box.
This class might be a good fit for the kinds of teens who are drawn to this sort of thing, but putting your daughter in it so that you can "make her over?" Uh-uh, no way. Find a horse/art/soccer/whatever-she's-interested-in-camp instead and keep teaching her to write those thank you notes. She'll be just fine.
Categories: Teens & tweens, In the news
Make Over Camp for your little Betty Draper.
We have a handful of etiquette-related rules at our house, like these, for example:
- No feet where you eat.
- Say please and thank you.
- When someone gives you a gift, send a thank-you card.
- Be the kind of guest who gets invited back.
We also have a couple that I never thought -- pre-parenthood -- I'd ever have to say out loud, like the most recent: We wear underwear every day.
As parents, we created these rules to help our girls become civilized human beings who will hopefully know how to make their way in the world, but according concert pianist Wonny Song, civilized isn't enough -- at least not for girls.
Song, co-director of a music and fine arts camp in Montreal, was so impressed by the manners of a friend's teenage daughter at a dinner party that he has started a new summer program called Make Over Camp.
The goal of the two week class, which is geared to girls ages 10 to 14, is to teach things like table manners, posture, conversation, fashion and make up and hostessing skills. "We see a lot of young ladies who can benefit from a makeover program," says camp co-creator Angela Chan. "They need to develop their presence."
Apparently, "presence" involves being able to put flowers into a vase (decorating a table is one of the course topics) and knowing which fork goes where. A lot of people are critical of the camp, including sociologist Marc LaFrance. "It might as well be called Wife Camp!," LaFrance tells "MacLeans." "Is Betty Draper happy on 'Mad Men?' " No! She's miserable! Things like makeover camp send the message that a girl's value lies in being entertaining, ornamental, totally innocuous, accommodating and polite. I'm also concerned because it targets girls. Where are the boys?"
Yes, indeed, where are the boys? "There was zero per cent interest from the boys," says Song. "Look, this is not a boot camp to reinforce the notion that girls should stay home. It's not sexist. We would love to include boys, but what can we do?"
Well, Song and Chang could start by creating a class that teaches etiquette to both sexes equally, one that doesn't send the wrong message to one and exclude the other. There may not be too many boys out there who are willing to admit they're interested in table settings, but there are plenty of teens -- boys and girls, alike -- who could use a refresher in manners. Marc McCreavy, one of the program's instructors, defends the camp by saying, "It's important to learn about appropriate topics of conversation and appropriate attire." Yes -- but important for girls and boys.
While I think a camp like this sends the wrong message to girls in general, I suspect there are girls out there who might be interested in it. It's like princess dresses. Moms worry when their little girls want to wear princess dresses -- day in and day out -- that they aren't getting enough exposure to gender neutral activities. But some little girls just want to be princesses, no matter how many trucks you stuff in their toy box.
This class might be a good fit for the kinds of teens who are drawn to this sort of thing, but putting your daughter in it so that you can "make her over?" Uh-uh, no way. Find a horse/art/soccer/whatever-she's-interested-in-camp instead and keep teaching her to write those thank you notes. She'll be just fine.
but That's off full that a Liebaral profressor whould Even Think that How is it Sexist?
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