As a young woman of 16, I was dismayed and shocked to read Caprice Bourret’s comments about allowing men to be “king of the castle” and “you can’t have two captains in a relationship” (My family values, 25 July).
Why ever not? I have been fortunate to grow up surrounded by many happy, successful and equal partnerships. To denigrate men as “simple creatures” who only require compliments, sex and food from a woman reinforces all the negative and damaging stereotypes of the value and roles of both women and men in our society.
Thankfully, her views are not reflective of the majority of young women and men I have been educated alongside at my state school, nor of the teachers who work hard to break down such pervasive, narrow and regressive attitudes. Such comments not only oppose all that we have been encouraged to think about but validate the thinking of those who hold misguided and sexist views. Most of the young women and men I know hope for fulfilling and supportive relationships that are based on love, respect and equality.
Tabitha Whates
Stoke Gabriel, Devon
