'Polite conversation' course for young women sparks backlash - Polidicks

[QUOTE]- analyzing the shape of their faces to determine which hairstyle is most flattering - assessing their body shape to choose clothing styles that are the most complimentary - completing an online shopping activity to identify their own personal style[/QUOTE] Those seem like pretty reasonable methods tbh Not every one has a supermodel body so picking out a look that makes you look good seems beneficial for self esteem. Some kids don't have the body for some of the clothes out there (girls and boys) but they buy the designer clothes and really dislike the way they look on their body. You can't always look like a famous movie star but you can always make yourself look the best you can. [QUOTE=SIRIUS;52009436]It existing says that there is a need for girls to learn to behave more properly. and ONLY girls. It adds to the overall surrounding voice saying that girls need to go an extra mile to be treated the same as guys[/QUOTE] I agree, there should also be an equivalent class that teaches boys to be polite too.

[QUOTE=Johnny Joe;52009452]Those seem like pretty reasonable methods tbh Not every one has a supermodel body so picking out a look that makes you look good seems beneficial for self esteem. Some kids don't have the body for some of the clothes out there (girls and boys) but they buy the designer clothes and really dislike the way they look on their body. You can't always look like a famous movie star but you can always make yourself look the best you can. I agree, there should also be an equivalent class that teaches boys to be polite too.[/QUOTE] IF it did all the same things, sure

[QUOTE=SIRIUS;52009458]IF it did all the same things, sure[/QUOTE] Of course. Learning life skills, learning how to dress the best you personally can, and how to behave in school, at your job, or at social gatherings is something that transcends sex and helps improve the community. When I took cooking in high school the class was 50/50 boy-girl because most kids realized that they needed to learn how to cook. I really disliked when I heard stories in high school of some of my female friends not being able to take cooking because their mothers thought it was too "gender role-y" and degrading (knowing how to feed one's self is somehow oppressive these days I suppose) Many girls as well as boys don't really see cooking as woman's work anymore, they see it just as another step towards self reliance and adulthood and classes like these should be promoted. Considering all the useless garbage they teach you in school (MACRO ECONOMICS, which really should be replaced with a class on how to cash a paycheck, file taxes, and budget a home), I really hope for more practical things that will be more immediately useful for young adults coming out of secondary education, such as cooking, mending, cleaning etc.

[QUOTE=Canuhearme?;52006300]Couldn't agree more, if modern parents are incapable of teaching children how to navigate society with grace and charm than I'm glad there's a class that does it for them. Hell, open up a male-only version of the class and [I]maybe[/I] you'll be doing society a favor.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise.[/QUOTE] That's a quote attributed to Socrates. At the latest it was written in 1907. Kids are shitty and always have been.

[QUOTE=JeSuisIkea;52009560]That's a quote attributed to Socrates. At the latest it was written in 1907. Kids are shitty and always have been.[/QUOTE] One real difference is the huge number of kids growing up without much parental or community direction today. I don't know of any comparable situation.

[QUOTE=SIRIUS;52009436]It existing says that there is a need for girls to learn to behave more properly. and ONLY girls. It adds to the overall surrounding voice saying that girls need to go an extra mile to be treated the same as guys[/QUOTE] They do though, we've got long embedded standards of what is 'beautiful' for women and that drives many young girls in vunerable emotional states to attempt to conform to totally unrealistic ideals. I can wear a fuckin flannel and some jeans and most girls I know would call it sexy, society doesn't impose looks on men nearly as much as women.

[QUOTE=gk99;52006699]So where's the class for boys to do the same thing? I'm okay with a self esteem class as long as there's one for everyone, but if boys are expected to just suck it up and deal with it they're kinda just enforcing gender stereotypes and that's where I start having a problem.[/QUOTE] It's seems like an individual with a passion for helping young girls spearheaded this class. It just sounds like someone with a passion for helping young men needs to step up and start one for boys.

[QUOTE=sgman91;52009585]One real difference is the huge number of kids growing up without much parental or community direction today. I don't know of any comparable situation.[/QUOTE] Well of course if you just make a situation up off the top of your head you won't know of any else to compare it to.

[QUOTE=SIRIUS;52009436]It existing says that there is a need for girls to learn to behave more properly. and ONLY girls. It adds to the overall surrounding voice saying that girls need to go an extra mile to be treated the same as guys[/QUOTE] Dude, why are you so butthurt? Do you genuinely believe it's going to brainwash a bunch of girls into thinking they're nothing more than eyecandy for men or something? It amazes me that you think that this can only do more harm than good, especially when we haven't even seen any kind of results from the class. Everything listed in the curriculum are things that 99% of people, regardless of gender, do anyway. What's wrong with analyzing the shape of your face to find a nice hairstyle? I do that. Assessing body shape to choose clothing styles that are the most complimentary? I do that. Completing online shopping activities to identify [B]their own personal style[/B]? I do that. If you don't do those things, you probably look like a bit of a slob. And that's your choice, just as the course is.

[QUOTE=Aetna;52011002]Dude, why are you so butthurt? Do you genuinely believe it's going to brainwash a bunch of girls into thinking they're nothing more than eyecandy for men or something? It amazes me that you think that this can only do more harm than good, especially when we haven't even seen any kind of results from the class. Everything listed in the curriculum are things that 99% of people, regardless of gender, do anyway. What's wrong with analyzing the shape of your face to find a nice hairstyle? I do that. Assessing body shape to choose clothing styles that are the most complimentary? I do that. Completing online shopping activities to identify [B]their own personal style[/B]? I do that. If you don't do those things, you probably look like a bit of a slob. And that's your choice, just as the course is.[/QUOTE] Make it for guys too and it would be better

[QUOTE=SIRIUS;52011043]Make it for guys too and it would be better[/QUOTE] As far as I can tell, almost everyone who has replied to your comment has agreed that they should make a male version too, but the fact that there isn't one at present doesn't directly imply that it's sexist or that they are making a statement that this is only something women should worry about.

[QUOTE=SIRIUS;52006582]A class just for girls that teaches them how to do makeup, hairstyles and dinner place settings? It says it's so that they can get through school"with self esteem intact" shouldn't they be able to do that anyway? Why not try and change the hyper competitive, shallow social atmosphere of schools instead[/QUOTE] I mean I'm a male and I took a course called aeshtetics at my high school (Only male in a class of 20 girls) that taught me all of the above including nail care and I honestly liked the class and feel like I learned some grooming tips so I really don't see the issue here.

I don't see any reason to hate a person wanting to be polite person with finesse and style. When I think of a lady trained in etiquette, I think not the caricature mother in the 50s but a striking modern lady in a tasteful dress at a formal night party. A kind of lady that could do well on her own. She may not be perfect but she knows her good side, in many different meanings, and highlights it. Being well-coordinated with sufficient tack with is a valuable skill. I'm a guy and I'd like to take that class. Guys needs improvement in general, especially in grooming. These days, I've only seen low effort clothes and hairstyles and I'm no different from them. I've seen only two tamed beards in my lifetime. I also can't be polite for the life of me.