Raising feisty females

I’m a feisty female. Born of a feisty female. Who in turn was born of a feisty female. But we live in a day and age where feminism has become a dirty word, and many feminists deny being one. Girls are called bossy and it’s seen as being bad. Being ambitious has negative connotations and we talk about “having balls” as being a good, but men-only, thing.

Woman sticking tongue out l Raising feisty females l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

Not demure now. Not demure 7 years ago.

Quite frankly, what is that all about? When did we/society decide that girls and women needed to be shrinking wallflowers to be “good”.

I say sod that whilst proudly raising my two feisty females.

Girl on climbing frame l Raising feisty females l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

Our eldest, L, doing yet more climbing

I tell my daughters they can be whatever they set their minds to. I teach them that having confidence is a good thing. I want them to understand that being female is not a negative and shouldn’t stop them from doing anything. Be it a stay-at-home-mum, be it a rocket scientist, be it a future prime minister.

I have 2 sisters and 2 brothers, and we were raised equally. We were all taught to do household chores from a young age; when we hit 13 we were all taught how to iron and from then on had to iron our own clothes. We were taught we could do any jobs we wanted, regardless of gender, and I now have a sister who’s a doctor and a brother who works in Human Resources.

Siblings making v signs at a family wedding l Raising Feisty Females l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

Some feisty females (and males) in my family, from left to right:
my brother, my cousin, me, my sister, my brother, my cousin, my cousin, my sister

I often think of my poor dad – married to a feisty female, who then had 3 feisty daughters before having 2 sons. He didn’t have a lot of peace for many years, but I’m pretty certain he looks at his successful daughters now and is proud of who we are and what we’ve become.

Which is why Hubs and I are raising our girls to be feisty females. To not just sit back and accept whatever life throws at them. To question. To question and to change what seems wrong.

Toddler roaring l Raising feisty females l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

Our youngest, C, roaring. As you do.

HOWEVER this does not mean we are teaching them that all that matters is getting their way. We also explain the importance of other people’s feelings when trying to achieve your ambitions. And hopefully they will become strong, sensitive, rounded women.

But then again, who knows? We just have to teach them as best we can and hope it all works out.

So far our girls have certainly got strong characters. Even at not quite 2 our youngest, C, has gone from being our chilled baby to a feisty toddler. And I say bring it on!

Although you may need to send wine to help me survive the next few years…..

What do you think? If you have daughters do you raise them to be feisty? Or do you prefer them to be more demure? Or maybe you are naturally feisty and were raised to be demure? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this one.

Girl up on climbing log l Raising feisty females l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

Our eldest, L, ready to rule the world…

Share

15 Responses

  1. Katy Hill says:

    I’m SO with you! Actually planned a blog for this week on how I realised the other day that I use the phrases “that took balls”, “grow some balls” etc all the time – as many women do. Then realised there’s not really an alternative that’s FEMALE based?

    • Franglaise Mummy says:

      Unless we’re talking about our boobs as balls 😉 ?? They are far bigger after all…. Funny, I think I was commenting on your blog whilst you were commenting on mine, some spooky telepathy going on there!

  2. Mel says:

    I agree with you! I really hope my four become “strong, sensitive, rounded” people, just like you described it so beautifully. My girls are definitely feisty. No idea where they get that from!
    Mel recently posted…A Present with a DifferenceMy Profile

    • Franglaise Mummy says:

      Us feisty mums are obviously creating next generations of feisty females 🙂 Yay!

  3. Love this post. As a feisty female who has an equally feisty two year old daughter, I say this… young girls should be exactly who they are and who they want to be. We wouldn’t say any different to boys now would we?! Loved this x
    Katie / Pouting In Heels recently posted…Today I am pissed off because…My Profile

  4. Love the pics in this!!
    I too am a feisty female coming from a long line of feisty females I only see it as a positive thing!! If we ever have a girl she will certainly be raised that way too! Sometimes I wish I was a little more demure but that feeling quickly fades…..really quickly!!

    • Franglaise Mummy says:

      Long live the feisty females 🙂 Sometimes I get upset that I don’t do demure, but then I think that the people in my life love me for who I am – a loud, feisty female so I’d best not let them down!

  5. Izzie Anderton says:

    This is such a great post!
    I’ve always encouraged my daughters to be feisty and told them they can achieve anything if they work hard enough. As my youngest twin daughter coxes for her home & uni rowing clubs she does feisty very well indeed!
    Izzie Anderton recently posted…Then and Now…My Profile

    • Franglaise Mummy says:

      Huzzah for feisty females – why let the boys have all the fun?!? And wow for your cox daughter – I liked the sound of that when I went to uni until I discovered the hard work involved 😉

  6. HPMcQ says:

    you see i think i might be the opposite… very quiet, doesn’t speak my mind, you would hardly notice i was here! ermm perhaps not!

  7. Yay for feisty females! I hope I’m raising Curly Girl to be what she wants to be and do what she wants to do – within reason of course! I’ve always been a people-pleaser and it’s hard to shake that – I can see the same trait in her. Not necessarily a bad thing as long as you don’t sacrifice yourself too much in the process. Fab post x
    Michelle Reeves (bod for tea) recently posted…Countdown to 10 miles: 1 week to goMy Profile

    • Franglaise Mummy says:

      You are such an amazing people-pleaser and we all love you for it. I can be at times but I am also pretty feisty too! It’s so funny when you see your personality traits appear in your children… x

  1. 20/10/2014

    […] Read the rest of the post at its original source by clicking here. […]

Leave a Reply to HPMcQ Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badge