CHAUVINISM

            Chauvinism: an attitude of superiority toward members of the opposite sex.  I’m sure that many, if not all, women have experienced this behavior at some point in their life.  It’s startling that countless men, especially men under the age of 40, conduct themselves like a chauvinistic pig at times.  Its 2011 not 1950, yet many men and women still allow this type of narrow-mindedness to occur. 

            My most recent encounter took place at my daughters’ parent-teacher conference.  The school my children attend do not require the student to be present during these conferences; I like my kids to take part in the process so they know exactly what’s going on.  My daughter, Bre, is in 8^th grade.  Since she is in junior high, it’s a round-table conference with all of the teachers.  There were four teachers, Bre, and myself. 

            The first three teachers all spoke highly of Bre.  They love having her class.  She is always willing to help out other students that might be struggling with a subject.  Bre participates and she brings a great sense of humor to the class; she’s such a joy to have in class.  The conference was going exactly how I expected it until the last teacher added his input.  I should have known that nothing good was going to come out of his mouth.  While the other teachers were going on, and on about how great Bre is, he just sat there with his arms crossed and looked a bit angry.  With a scowl on his face, he looked directly at Bre with his finger pointed and said, “If you continue to act the way that you do, you will never have a husband in life.”  I paused; I thought to myself, he didn’t just say what I think he did.  Well, as I looked around at the other teachers and saw the expression on their face and jaws on the table, I realized that he really did say what I thought I heard. 

            I took a deep breathe, trying to compose myself, and said to him, “First of all, I don’t believe you are a counselor and if you are you may need some counseling yourself.  I have taught my daughter to have a mind of her own, but to always be respectful when expressing it.  How dare you sit here and talk to a child this way.  I know much later in life my daughter will have a husband and I hope and pray that he is nothing like you.  Obviously you think I AM MAN, (motioning my hand up high), and YOU ARE WOMEN, (motioning my hand down low).  I hope that you are not drilling this ideology into the students which you teach.”

            This teacher is 28 years old.  There were two female teachers and one other male teacher ranging in age from their early 20’s to mid-50’s.  The conference ended on that note.  The other teachers all approached me and apologized profusely.  The next day I scheduled an appointment with the principal.  The outcome has yet to be determined. 

            I really can’t remember the last time I encountered this way of thinking.  It was very disheartening that someone so young feels this way.  This is who my daughter and many other young boys and girls, is learning from.  Hopefully, all of these students have better teachers in their homes.