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So here's the scoop: A Park Slope mom finds a hat in the park. The hat is blue. She sends out an email to nearby parents asking if anyone lost a "boy's" hat. Chaos breaks out.

Lisa, spitting mad, writes back, "I’m sorry, I know that you are just trying to be helpful, but what makes this a 'boy’s hat'? Did you see the boy himself loose it? Or does the hat in question possess an unmistakable scent of testosterone?"

Eyes are rolled. More emails are sent.

Some of the moms attempt to turn the ruckus into a joke.

"I’m sorry but, HOW DO YOU KNOW it’s for an older child? What does this say about younger children who happen to have large heads? Is something wrong with them??" jokes Susan.

"And along those lines, how do really know this is a “hat”? Doesn’t this just speak to our conventional understanding of what a “hat” really is?" Jennifer chimes in.

Others are not amused.

"Lisa, I can’t believe the amount of negative response your post has generated. You really touched a nerve. I’m really astonished by how constricted people are in their thinking," Abbey tuts.

Lisa defends herself with a long humorless e-mail, ending with, "[Children] learn these labels and stereotypes from the everyday language used in our community. Yes, even in an innocent post about a lost hat."

And it goes on. And on. And on.

Think I'm making this up? Sadly, no.

Posted 11 April 2006 at 10:35 AM