I saw this book in the bookstore the other day and thought that it looked like a fun book without really scanning it. But I can understand why the Aborigines would find encouraging girls to play the didgeridoo offensive. It's their cultural view not to have girls play it. I wouldn't go into another person's country and tell them how they should behave.

Though, I question the intended target audience for the book - if it is marketed globally then the writers or publishers should have done a better job researching cultural norms. If it's for a strictly U.S.-centric audience, it may not be as harmful.

Exactly. It's so American of us to take people's cultural innovations for our own entertainment. But then we leave behind all of the hierarchical baggage, which is incredibly rude.

We must adopt culturally sexist customs if we're going to play this instrument.

I don't care what their 'cultural norms' are, you don't get a free pass from me for sexist beliefs. That's like somebody saying I have no right to go to South Africa and encourage black people to practice all the same behaviors white people practice. Maybe it's time the Aborigines came into the 21st century, at least on this one.

It's not the same thing Mich. But that's how many people in the U.S. think so I understand your point, but I disagree.

Yeah, women's rights and black people's rights are totally different Mich.

How is it not the same thing?

Ahhh....I don't know how I feel. I agree with you krradford about the culture thing but I also agree with Michelin about the sexism stance.

All I'm saying is, as an American, I can't go into Australia and say, you have to start allowing girls to play this instrument. I'm not a citizen, I don't vote in their elections, so why is ok for me to tell them what they should do about a cultural issue. Granted there are situations where the aid of outside help may be warranted in other countries i.e. genocide. But it's an instrument.

Nobody trying to make the Aborigines do anything! They're upset because in America there is a book encouraging our girls to do something they believe should be only for males. That's sexism, and I don't approve of it, no matter what their cultural heritage says.

Every culture is as good as every other culture Michelin. They're just different. Try to be more tolerant.

Again - in my first comment, I mentioned that it also depends on where the book is marketed. If it's global, then there is a problem in my view and many other global marketers that I work with tend to have the same feeling. However, if it is mainly marketed in the U.S. - not so harmful.

Even if it were directly marketed to the Aborigines, it wouldn't be a bad thing in my eyes. They don't get to use 'culture' as an excuse for sexist behavior. Perhaps it was inappropriate to distribute anti-slavery literature (like Uncle Tom's Cabin) in the South pre-civil war? Certainly slavery and not allowing a girl to play an instrument are not the same thing, but the principle is the same.

This conversation is the Bridge to Nowhere. Have a good day Mich. I need to get back to work

This book is meant to be published in Australia. If you read carefully, you see that this is the Australian version, not the U.S. version.

Regardless, I don't see why the Aborigines are all up in arms. If they don't like this book, they shouldn't read it. I'm not extremely versed on Australian civil liberties, but I know they have some version of freedom of expression. This book is not something that is being forced on anyone, so who really cares if it exists?

Krrad, I'm glad you're so willing to listen to and think about other people's opinions...

Exactly Krradford. It is a problem to publish books that are contrary to people's bigoted beliefs.

All beliefs are equal.

Mich - sometimes people need to learn to disagree. I'm just stating my opinion and I don't agree. It doesn't mean I didn't hear you. So the back-handed comments can stop and I'm not turning this into an ongoing argument.

You didn't bother to discuss it with me at all, so it looks like you didn't bother to think about what I said. If you state your opinion, and I state mine, and neither of us think about what the other person said, then nobody gets anything out of it.

Oh please. This is a silly non-issue. The book probably intentionally included this to be ironically funny!

I really wanted this book for myself...but instead bought "The Dangerous Book for Boys" for my husband. It's still sitting on the shelf

Aboriginal belief systems are like any religion, based on superstition. Women are not allowed to play the didgeridoo as it is supposedly linked to their fertility, ie if you want children that wont happen after you've played and vice versa. All religious superstitions should be challenged as far as I'm concerned, bring on the female priests.
Oh and, my daughter owns a didgeridoo, so far, no pregnancies!

"Oh and, my daughter owns a didgeridoo, so far, no pregnancies!"

I could think of a really offhanded joke after that comment...

My 11 yr old daughter has this book and loves it! My son has the Dangerous Book for Boys too. As soon as my youngest is old enough she'll get her own copy of the Daring Book as well.

"I could think of a really offhanded joke after that comment.."

ah but you see I'm not running for VP of one of the worlds super powers. I teach my teenager about birth control, she doesn't believe in any religious voodoo.

I figured as much ceej, your comment just made me giggle

We had an aborignal guy come into primary school and teach us how to play a didgeridoo. I remember i sucked at it. I know girls from then who have children now...