Will things change?

Some days, I don't think things will change. I get scared that women won't ever feel good enough because the media will continue to brainwash them to think so. I get scared that little girls will get sucked so far into the "princess culture" that they won't know how to get out of it. Maybe it is what some young girls want. Maybe the they enjoy the pre-disposed gender role that they have been give. However, if it was up to me, everyone would've been lucky enough to play with Barbies and Spiderman/Batman/Star Wars action figures at the same time, like I did. I looked at the toys as equals. Spiderman and Barbie took just as long to get ready for the day. There was no sense of needing to overdress my Barbie. Then, I took this philosophy to myself and decided I would not fall into the princess culture.

How can we prevent this? Wille we always be the damsels in distress with a dress on, pink shoes and sparkles on our faces? The thing that scares me most about this, is not that women won't be strong and stand up for themselves or not have the ability "choose" who they want to be, is that they will grow up knowing nothing better. They will grow up with that sense of entitlement and feel like they are much better than everyone in the world because of what their parents have taught them or what society shows them on the television. The world does not need more "bratty" individuals seeking out self-fulfillment through photos, compliments and how many people pay attention to them. (And yes, I am referencing all of the pageant shows on television).

After everything we've learned in class and discussed, it's safe to say that, hopefully, the second wave of feminism is here. Hopefully, mothers and fathers and the people around young girls can influence them to be themselves and not fall into the trap of the princess culture--and not fall into the idea that they cannot be strong, independent women on their own.

Princess Culture

When we began talking about princess culture in this class I was well aware of the effect it can have on children. From the time I was 12 years old until now, ten years later, my cousins have been having children. From three different cousins they have had six baby girls and two baby boys. As these girls have grown up I have seen the same trend continuing. My cousins will buy them princess dresses to dress up in, backpacks or lunchboxes with their favorite Disney princess on them, and even take them to Disney World so that their dream of meeting these princesses can come to life. They were raising these girls with an idea of  I never thought about the negative aspects that this could have on children, though. All of that changed when a new movie by Disney and Pixar was announced.  

Brave was released in 2012, but before anyone could even see the movie there was an uproar over this new character, Merida. She was a new type of Princess. In the norm of Princess culture the characters are Beautiful, submissive, and ultra feminine. However when the preview for Brave is seen it is clear that she isn't submissive or ultra feminine (at least not the way society defines femininity). She talks back to her father and mother and wants nothing to do with a husband. When the media gets a hold of this trailer they're immediately confused. They don't seem to understand how this woman could want to be independent there has to be some ulterior motive behind this... she must be... a lesbian! Of course! It makes perfect sense. She is a beautiful, strong, and independent woman with no interest in being married. She must be a lesbian. It's the only logical response they could have made.

Or they could have gone along with Disney and Pixar on this journey and not worried about her sexual orientation. I remember being offended at the thought that just because she does not tie into traditional gender roles that they would jump to a conclusion. Especially about a cartoon character in a movie. I just think it's a horrible thing to assume someone's sexual orientation based on a few outward characteristics or, in the case of Merida, not wanting to be in a relationship and having more traditionally masculine interests.

I hate to think that guys are judged this way or that girls are judged this way; mostly I hate to think that my nieces and nephews and little cousins are growing up in a world that will judge something so personal based on how they choose to dress or where their interests lie. I think Princess culture (and Superhero culture) is doing a lot of harm on the side of understanding gender and what it means to be a man or a woman in today's America.