For a while now I've been conducting my own unofficial survey. I say unofficial because it isn't based on anything scientific and, well, only documented in my shabby memory.
Here's how it goes: I always find myself surrounded with kids, and not just at work. My after school activities involve kids one way or another (but admittedly much younger and cuter and less destructive:P) and sooner or later they'll say something about their schools; you know the name of their teacher or that naughty kid in math class. Which is where I pounce.
Ah, if I had a Hershey's Kiss for each time I asked a little boy in which school he is, to be told that he's in one of the American/English/international schools, then when I turn around to ask his sister if she's at the same school, I am greeted with an all-too-familiar shake of the head and the name of your average Arabic school.
Before I continue with my rant, I feel I must pause to clarify that what I'm addressing here is not whether international or Arabic schools are better. That's not the point I'm trying to reach, at least not in this post.
At the end of the day, parents are entitled, based on their unique judgement and beliefs to choose the school they feel suits their kids best- the financial aspect included. I'm not questioning that. Send them to whatever school you like, I won't stand in your way!
After all, with the exception of KG, I went to your average Arabic private school all my life and I turned out fine (okay that's debatable, but really I don't think I can blame my borderline-wackiness on my teachers, some things are instinctive I'm afraid!)
My point is that if you decide that Arabic schools are good enough for your kids, then they should be good enough for ALL your kids. And by extension, if you feel they aren't good enough for your kids, then they shouldn't be good enough for ALL your kids. Get that- ALL your kids. Yep that includes males and females. Boys and girls. XXs and YXs (excuse me, but the biologist in me can't help but rear its head once in a while:P)
I just wish I could understand how these people think. I mean, what the heck are they thinking? Are they even?
Okay, that was a lie. Unfortunately, I do understand exactly how their twisted logic works. But it sickens me to a point where I pretend not to grasp it, for no other reason than my own peace of mind. That and not to go strangle them.
That is why if I had a say about it (which I don't, obviously) I would choose to have a girl over a boy any time of the year. Partly because I think little girls are the cutest, most affectionate darlings on earth. But mostly as a symbolic act of defiance against the prehistoric yet remarkably surviving sick notion that boys are somehow better. For some reason they are deemed as "more worth it". Somehow, a boy's success would "naturally" make them more proud. As if their hearts would swell with pride a little bit more. Their smile would be a little more huge and their tears of happiness a little more abundant. And why not when he's the boy.
Those people make me sick. And I'm not even a die-hard feminist. But some things just yell out: WRONG.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
Sister, you said it. And you don't want me to get started here. You really don't.
You know what scares me? I fear that I will be the opposite of these parents and might actually prefer my daughters to my sons. Yikes.
I'll have to make my boys wear T-shirts saying: "We're not to blame for our patriarchal society."
All kidding aside. Like you said, all I can say to this is: sickening.
Actually I do have more to say. Subhan Allah our society in fact can get past this if we were to really understand and practice Islam. That is instead of relying on a strange and ugly blend of the worst cultural baggage in history (Hello infanticide!)
Okay so now we don't bury them, we just give them a "second class" education. Hooray for progress.
That really doesn't cut it. We need to do MUCH more. Let's all go read and internalize the Qur'an and the sunnah of our beloved prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The world would become a better place for it.
Allah yihdeena jami'an.
You speak jewels sis!
But I must say, that part about shunning away your boys cracked me up
hehehehehehehe
Poor things! :P LOVE the t-shirt idea though!!
Did you consider the reason behind the parents choice is the fact that the classes in these foreign schools are co-ed in all levels, and they don't want their daughter to be subjected to the turmoils of adolescence with added pressure of teenagers boys all around her?
BTW, did you and your sister get the gendere discrimination treatment?
Well, to begin with, there is no shortage of all-girl American and English schools, at least here in Kuwait. So if co-ed was the real reason behind it, then they'd send them to these equally high-calibre schools.
But this brings me back to my original point, if they believe that co-ed isn't the smartest environment to expose your teenage kids to, then this should be EQUALLY true for boys and girls. That's the essense of my argument. What's wrong for girls is also wrong for boys. Your beliefs shouldn't sway back and forth depending on the gender of your child. Even if you take it from an islamic point of you, sins and wrongdoings are "unisex", if you will! No one gets special treatment.
And as for my sis and I, we went to the same arabic private schools that my brother went to.
Post a Comment