* Disclaimer: I know it's just a song
http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/nelson-willie/mammas-dont-let-your-babies-grow-up-to-be-cowboys-2513.html
Since the character in the song is refering to males growing up to be "cowboys' and all the negative aspects of that life style, but it seems that it is more the boys father that is responsible for molding the boy into a responsible man and giving him a blue print to what a man is supposed to be. If the father is not in the childs life then the song might be more accurate but I think that as it is the song does no justice to fathers and shifts responsibility of one's children to the mother thus feeding the negative image that father's have in society.
Agree?
2007-10-10 07:21:34 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Gender Studies
Rainbow: Perhaps some insecure people do that. Notice I said people, because women do it too to their sons/daughters.
2007-10-10 07:41:46 · update #1
Yeah, I think you're right.
Then again, I hear songs all the time in which the objectification of women is encouraged. I think that it's a given that a lot of popular music is sexist, whether it's towards males of females.
2007-10-10 07:51:10 · answer #1 · answered by G 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The song was written at a time when most men were not really all that involved with child raising. In those days, fathers were expected to work, bring home a paycheck, dole out the discipline, and make the decisions for the family. Aside from occasional outings with the children and games of catch with the boys, men really didn't actually raise the children. A common joke was that most fathers didn't know their children's birthdates or middle names.
2007-10-10 08:10:36 · answer #2 · answered by RoVale 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
yeah, it's just a song. . . .
it's little boys who say I wanna be a cowboy when I grow up. . . .at a life stage where their mothers are primary in their lives usually
As if parents can really control what their children decide to be when they grow up. . . .
And that's chauvinistic to assume the father is responsible for molding the boy into a responsible man--yeah he may be the male role model or blue print
How do you know the father is in the child's life--far too many men aren't good role models and shirk their responsibilities to children they've sired, leaving them to the mothers to raise
BUT that has nothing to do with the song at all. . . . . .
2007-10-10 07:55:51 · answer #3 · answered by chatsplas 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
These lyrics imply that men have little hand in raising their children, and that mothers are unilaterally responsible for how they turn out. But "Parents, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys" would sound pretty dumb.
2007-10-10 09:42:29 · answer #4 · answered by Rio Madeira 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Ever see a pro football player turn to the camera and say Hi Mom? It's just something that happens.
2007-10-10 07:41:40 · answer #5 · answered by pappyld04 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
this song was written years ago when mothers had full control over the household and were the soul caretakers of their children. like you said, it is just a song and merely an opinion of one person-the song writer.
2007-10-10 07:33:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Maybe because fathers want their sons to grow up to be what they couldn’t be. (Living their fantasies through their sons)
2007-10-10 07:39:26 · answer #7 · answered by Rainbow 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The feminist version-
Momma's don't let your son grow to be men, all they will do is rape and hate.
2007-10-10 08:05:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 5⤋