Dad's hilarious letter calls out sexism at daughter's school
An Aussie dad's response to the school who sent his daughter for a makeover with the girls in her class, while the boys went to Bunnings has gone viral.
Stephen Callaghan from Wongarbon in NSW, brilliantly calls them out for sexism in a hilariously sassy letter where he accuses them of living in "1968."
In the note which has been shared on Twitter, the 51-year-old slams the school for their dated approach to teaching.
“I must draw your attention to a serious incident," he wrote. “When Ruby left for school yesterday it was 2017 but when she returned home in the afternoon she was from 1968."
“I know this to be the case as Ruby informed me that the ‘girls’ in Year 6 would be attending the school library to get their hair and make-up done on Monday afternoon," he continued. "While the ‘boys’ are going to Bunnings."
I wrote a letter pic.twitter.com/oFJp7egVnf
— Grumplestiltskin (@2FBS) December 6, 2017
The dad then went on to poke fun at their dated educational activity, suggesting the search the building for "a rip in the space-time continuum?"
“I look forward to this being rectified and my daughter and other girls at the school being returned to this this millennium," he concluded. "Where school activities are not divided sharply along gender lines.”
Social media has since erupted for the dad, who has been praised for standing up to the school.
10/10 tip-top parenting.
— The Cathy Wilcox (@cathywilcox1) December 6, 2017
Utterly perfect. I personally loved the time travel aspect. But srsly, i am a lady person and i love makeup to an unhealthy degree but I'd be pissed off AF if I'd been made to do that or if it had been my daughter
— Mince Pie-lie (@misskylie77) December 8, 2017
Thank you for this. My 3yo son was recently excluded from a doll’s picnic at daycare as it was for the girls. We need to stop gendering activities.
— Rachael Dean (@rachaelispoetry) December 7, 2017
Your letter is boss.
— Alanah Pearce (@Charalanahzard) December 6, 2017
Some users however have suggested that his daughter would have chosen the hair and make-up option anyway, and couldn't understand what his gripe was about.
I bet that if you let your daughter choose without pressure, she would opt voor the hair and makeup thing. I know it's not cool and/or genderneutral but as an experianced father of at least 2 daughters I know this to be true.
— Baardaap 🐒 (@barbatum67) December 8, 2017
Of course, Stephen had a brilliant response for them too.
Oooh an "experienced father" ....and here I am a mere amateur father.
My (middle) daughter ( we have 3 daughters...but only on an amateur basis you understand) came to ME upset she wasn't given the choice. She DIDN'T get to choose. The school chose for her.— Grumplestiltskin (@2FBS) December 8, 2017
Ruby’s school released the following statement on social media following receipt of Stephen’s letter.
“A long tradition at Dubbo West Public School has been activities including preparing hair and light make-up with professionals on the day of the Year 6 graduation," it read.
“Several years ago, the visit to Bunnings replaced the previous boys’ activity," it continued. “The school is happy to accommodate any student who prefers the alternative activity."
Since the LOL-worthy letter went viral, Stephen has since shared some other letters he's written to the school in the past. Check them out below.
I have a history (much to my daughter's chagrin) of writing stupid letters to their schools pic.twitter.com/HbxHaTHBQv
— Grumplestiltskin (@2FBS) December 9, 2017
Talk about #dadgoals.
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