I saw a story on TV this morning that said we are failing our young girls by discouraging them from pursuing careers in science and technology. So I was forced to take matters into my own hands.
Me: You know that you can be anything you want to be, right?
Daughter: Sure
Me: You can be a scientist or an astronaut.
Daughter: I don’t want to be an astronaut.
Me: Really, it’s OK. Daddy says you can be an astronaut. I know you’re totally capable. Forget what society says.
Daughter: I want to be a dancer.
Me: A dancer? No can do. That’s not gonna work. No daughter of mine is going to be pigeonholed into being a dancer, just because society thinks that’s what girls need to be doing! I’ll be seen as stifling my daughter’s love of science and technology due to the oppression of the patriarchy. I won’t allow society to force you to do something you don’t love. Not on my watch!
Daughter: I don’t want to be an astronaut.
Me: You’re going to be an astronaut and that’s final!
Daughter: (Walks away)
Me: (Attempts to high five wife, left hanging)
We’ve come a long way. My father wanted me to be a schoolteacher.
oh let her be a dancer! Astronauts have a high unemployment rate, but dancers…oh wait.