History of Feminism

JoDog

(1,353 posts)

51. The selkie (also spelled "Silkie" and "selchies")

Mon Jan 28, 2013, 11:15 AM

Jan 2013

Is mythological creature from Icelandic, Irish and Scottish folklore. They are sometimes called the "Irish mermaids" or "Scottish mermaids". There are tales of both female and male selkies. Essentially, they are a type of shapeshifter. They put on seal skins and transform into seals. If they take the skins off, they look like normal humans.

Selkies are a big feature in local tales from the coastal areas and islands. In some parts of Ireland and the Orkneys, some families have handed down stories about having selkie blood. This includes my Orkney ancestors, who came from a village next to a harbor whose old Pict name translates to "the place of the fairies."

The movie The Secret of Roan Innish is a modern retelling of these myths.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selkie

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Should 8-Year-Olds Be Reading Stories That Glorify Rape? [View all] seabeyond Jan 2013 OP

If you ask teabaggers and freepers, the answer is yes jmowreader Jan 2013 #1

Actually, pipoman Jan 2013 #2

A book endorsing rape is not a appropriate part ismnotwasm Jan 2013 #5

I agree pipoman Jan 2013 #9

Okey dokey ismnotwasm Jan 2013 #15

are you suggesting our 8 yr old daughters should be reading about rape/kidnapping as happy ever seabeyond Jan 2013 #7

Read the post I responded to, pipoman Jan 2013 #10

confusing. but, there is another way to take the two posts. so, it is not appropriate seabeyond Jan 2013 #12

I would consider it inapproperate pipoman Jan 2013 #16

most school administration would see it as inappropriate. as i say below, seabeyond Jan 2013 #18

I don't disagree.. pipoman Jan 2013 #21

The number of fairy tales ismnotwasm Jan 2013 #3

Uhm, the Bible new testament is a rape story. Lionessa Jan 2013 #4

Not to mention all the rape in the Old Testament ismnotwasm Jan 2013 #6

Glorified in art, too. " Rape of the Sabine Women." BlancheSplanchnik Jan 2013 #32

Ugh, sure was ismnotwasm Jan 2013 #40

Rape and Incest...reigns supreme! n/t vaberella Jan 2013 #79

As a class assignment: probably not a good idea bluestateguy Jan 2013 #8

Exactly pipoman Jan 2013 #11

that does not mean that a school is going to offer any and all books. that is ridiculous to think seabeyond Jan 2013 #17

True, pipoman Jan 2013 #20

Agree to a point especially about banning books. ismnotwasm Jan 2013 #13

school libraries always choose the books that go into the library. they do not just allow all books seabeyond Jan 2013 #14

I was 11 when I read that ismnotwasm Jan 2013 #19

This is the rub.. pipoman Jan 2013 #23

Very true ismnotwasm Jan 2013 #26

Interesting pipoman Jan 2013 #42

Heh ismnotwasm Jan 2013 #46

oh i thought you were talking about sunday school and the bible. Phillip McCleod Jan 2013 #22

No; the Quran and the life of Muhammed and his child-"wives." WinkyDink Jan 2013 #25

This story is CREEPY. WinkyDink Jan 2013 #24

I'm sorry, but WeekendWarrior Jan 2013 #27

Certainly the book glorifies rape - in the end, the rapist is seen as the victim of abandonment mbperrin Jan 2013 #29

Let me say this in plain language WeekendWarrior Jan 2013 #86

MAN kidnap a GIRL, hold her hostage, rape repeatedly against her will and WE are the fuckin idiots. seabeyond Jan 2013 #88

Yes WeekendWarrior Jan 2013 #90

how does it not golirify/romanticize the rape? it is accepted and not challenged. nt seabeyond Jan 2013 #91

Uh, okay WeekendWarrior Jan 2013 #92

yes, if you romanticize a rape in your story as a happy ever after love story, then yes, you are seabeyond Jan 2013 #93

Please... WeekendWarrior Jan 2013 #96

stolen, unhappy, against will. man wants, takes. 5 kids so sex. what is that if not rape? nt seabeyond Jan 2013 #97

He entraps her and impregnates her. MadrasT Jan 2013 #99

There's a difference between plain language and just plain crude language. mbperrin Jan 2013 #94

And Goldilocks teaches kids to break into people's homes and steal WeekendWarrior Jan 2013 #95

Nope. Goldilocks espouses the Greek value of the middle way. mbperrin Jan 2013 #98

i suppose you would cheer "little black sambo" back in the schools also? because racism was accepted seabeyond Jan 2013 #33

Have you read it? RC Jan 2013 #36

yes. they changed the name and illustration. seabeyond Jan 2013 #38

To even make such a comparison WeekendWarrior Jan 2013 #87

yes. because racism is bad. misogyny is biological. i got it, warrior you.... nt seabeyond Jan 2013 #89

No wonder funDies are messed up... Kalidurga Jan 2013 #28

So. No fairy tales and no Sunday school Bible stories. aquart Jan 2013 #30

no. in the second grade the kids will not learn about mass murders of world war II. it is called seabeyond Jan 2013 #34

Hysteria? ismnotwasm Jan 2013 #37

hysteria, LOL. it's appropriate to read only when it's also accepted to be appropriate to discuss bettyellen Jan 2013 #85

There's a lot to be unpacked here. harmonicon Jan 2013 #31

The problem is the character is not presented as vile ismnotwasm Jan 2013 #39

Is he presented that way in the story? Have you read it? harmonicon Jan 2013 #41

What I meant was ismnotwasm Jan 2013 #44

People - including children - know plenty about Jefferson. harmonicon Jan 2013 #45

And now they know owned slaves. ismnotwasm Jan 2013 #47

Probably not is so many words, but it's no different than this story. harmonicon Jan 2013 #48

With discussions like these ismnotwasm Jan 2013 #49

The difference is we don't see many boys taking slaves. redqueen Jan 2013 #50

What is sex with a slave, if not rape? harmonicon Jan 2013 #57

What does that have to do with requiring 8 year olds to read a story romanticizing rape? redqueen Jan 2013 #58

Ok, let me set up a fictional analogy. harmonicon Jan 2013 #61

How many stories romanticizing rape do you think 8 year olds are required to read? redqueen Jan 2013 #62

Stories? The canonization of real people is far more serious than any story. harmonicon Jan 2013 #64

Apples to oranges. redqueen Jan 2013 #65

Whatever. harmonicon Jan 2013 #74

So your reason for thinking nothing should be done gollygee Jan 2013 #75

Not at all. harmonicon Jan 2013 #77

Damn, redqueen Jan 2013 #81

great thread, sea. Yeah, the glorification of rape; enjoyment in victimizing women.... BlancheSplanchnik Jan 2013 #35

The selkie (also spelled "Silkie" and "selchies") JoDog Jan 2013 #51

ohhhhh yeah....that's right, there's a Celtic and Pictish heritage there too. BlancheSplanchnik Jan 2013 #53

hmm...wouldn't be in my child's elementary school library. onpatrol98 Jan 2013 #43

This sounds like a book more suitable for high school juniors or seniors. CrispyQ Jan 2013 #52

I'm going to come down on the side of art, literature, and history... mike_c Jan 2013 #54

for 8 yr olds? nt seabeyond Jan 2013 #56

No, not for eight year olds. Sheldon Cooper Jan 2013 #63

Well they learn about George Washington, don't they?!?!?! redqueen Jan 2013 #66

Yeah, forget about that Spongebob crap! Sheldon Cooper Jan 2013 #68

what i recognized when kids were young, is adults who did not parent tell me how i wronged my kids seabeyond Jan 2013 #72

I think so... mike_c Jan 2013 #67

Romanticized rape narratives rarely upset children (or most adults)... redqueen Jan 2013 #69

I think you have to pull a gestalt here ismnotwasm Jan 2013 #70

agreed.... mike_c Jan 2013 #71

now you get it! if your daughter wasn't disturbed by the story, it's worse because she's going to bettyellen Jan 2013 #83

yes. once you take the pill... you see it everywhere. lol. but, you are right. seabeyond Jan 2013 #84

and on that, that would be creating the conditioning of a rape society. no adult challenging. seabeyond Jan 2013 #73

That's the whole point gollygee Jan 2013 #76

I think you misunderstood my comments.... mike_c Jan 2013 #78

No. MadrasT Jan 2013 #55

I don't think that material/discussion is suitable for the 3rd grade, myself. redqueen Jan 2013 #59

I have no idea at what age kids are ready for what. MadrasT Jan 2013 #60

hey, seabeyond.... mike_c Jan 2013 #80

hey, mike... seabeyond Jan 2013 #82