(edit title) N.Y. Times: Swedish School’s Big Lesson ... ... Begins With Dropping Personal Pronouns Options

[Zill]

Swedish School’s Big Lesson Begins With Dropping Personal Pronouns

STOCKHOLM — At an ocher-color preschool along a lane in Stockholm’s Old Town, the teachers avoid the pronouns “him” and “her,” instead calling their 115 toddlers simply “friends.” Masculine and feminine references are taboo, often replaced by the pronoun “hen,” an artificial and genderless word that most Swedes avoid but is popular in some gay and feminist circles.

In the little library, with its throw pillows where children sit to be read to, there are few classic fairy tales, like “Cinderella” or “Snow White,” with their heavy male and female stereotypes, but there are many stories that deal with single parents, adopted children or same-sex couples.

[byke]

I had read this article earlier today, and the first thing I thought of was ....
Imagine if other generalizations were banned in the same mannerism.

Where people were not judged as "Swedes" or "immigrants" all the time.
Or where language wasn't deemed as right or wrong in terms of communication.

#Hypocrisy ? or #Democracy ?

[Gamla Hälsingebock]

New Speak? A la Orwell.

[Movedtoswedenandgotstuck]

Well no-one is fooling the kids. They'll tell it how it is.
It's only the adults who to make themselves feel morally
superior by trying to force the assignation of these ridiculous
gender neutral terms.

Try asking kids to draw "hen i hens rosa tutu".
What are the odds they draw a boy in a tutu?
And if you did show them a boy in a pink tutu, the would most
likely comment that is was a boy in a pink tutu and considered
this unusual.

How about trying to really help children by teaching them to read,
write and count by the time they get to the first grade.
Not just trying to teach them about different gender and social norms.

[Puffin]

Just surprised that this is considered new - it is around 10 years now since the project "Brave girls & Tender boys" was so widely discussed and reported

Showed that staff unconsciously treat boys and girls differenly at dagis

[byke]

I hope the teachers make sure that all girls must stand up when using urinals.
As we wouldn't want any special treatment that showed differences.

[Puffin]

Perhaps all boys should sit down - then we could all enjoy puddle free loos

[John.Smith]

I just don't see the point of the gender neutral pronoun 'hen'. Should small kids not be allowed to express their gender?

I am all for ensuring that the sexes receive equal support and attention from the dagis staff... but this just feels misguided!

Kids know there are physical differences between boys and girls. They know and see that Mum and Dad are different genders... why confuse them with this?

What really matters is that the stereotypes are not enforced on them. This feels more like they are being forced to disqualify a person's gender when making reference to them.

[Pursuivant]

it is around 10 years now since the project "Brave girls & Tender boys" was so widely discussed and reported

Seems like it has worked http://www.thelocal.se/44386/20121113/

[ThePassenger]

Perhaps all boys should sit down - then we could all enjoy puddle free loos

It's been taken care of: http://www.thelocal.se/41358/20120611/

[byke]

Perhaps all boys should sit down - then we could all enjoy puddle free loos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tyiwCf4ODM

 

 

[EP]

Looks like this will just create a new generation of androgynous robots unaware of whether they're female or male. How dystopian ... how utterly boring ...

[Hisingen]

It sure is going to create some fun where public loos are concerned. Just imagine the women trying to manage in some of the urinal stalls.
Just suit you eh Puffin??? Following your comment.

[Yorkshireman]

I have wondered if there was some kind of irony in the fact that to make something gender neutral they choose a word that in English is Female???? Hen.

[Hisingen]

We have had to go through the perversity of the 'spokesperson', which suddenly brings to the fore - speaking 'personally' - perhaps as a hen? Are we to look forward to a life in which everything has been neutered? PC or whatever.
To me, for example, PC always referred to a police constable, now does it refer to someone who is Pretty Cracked?
Yorkshireman has put the cat aong the pidgeons by pointing out about the 'hen'. Naughty, but something I feel we should spread further so that it reaches the ears of the nitwits 'leading this campaign'. Then we might see a touch of panic as they try to find another ludicrous solution bearing in mind there aren't that many vowels to substitute further that could be used to form their nonsense word. I am more than aware that a language undergoes change, but to sensible people it is more newer words or meanings of same i.e. who dares to use the word gay to describe a happy happening (gay time)? But this is attempting change for the sake of it, and in such a dappy way, too. Hopefully it will not catch on and we shall see a return to more happier times (gay times??).