Same-sex male couple ban books about mom for daughter’s sake

Thanks to NOM for alerting us to this story about two men who “shy away from books that center around a mom character” when reading to their daughter.  They believe “reading time is daddy time.”

On Huffington Post, the men explained how they choose books for their toddler:

We like books with a point. 

 We like books with strong female characters, and we tend to shy away from stories about princesses. . . it seems like so many princess narratives focus on physical beauty and waiting for some prince to come rescue or complete them. No, thanks. 

 We tend to shy away from books that center around a mom character. No, we are not trying to shield Simone from the fact that she has two dads rather than a mom and a dad. But when reading to her at such an early age, we'd rather focus on stories that reinforce the bond between a father and child. She sees plenty of mom figures on TV and in her real life already. Reading time is daddy time.

Many parents think of reading time as Child Time. But for others it’s time for propaganda.  I once worked with a teacher who screened picture books and censored out the ones that had moms doing traditionally female work such as cooking.   Woman Power, and all that.

What’s wrong with cooking?  What’s wrong with being a mom?

These two men can teach their toddler how fathers act.  But who will teach her how to be a strong female?  Or a strong mother?

Gender matters.