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.