Comments on: Anti-princess heroines from my youth http://www.phdinparenting.com/2010/03/10/anti-princess-heroines-from-my-youth/ ...exploring the art and science of parenting Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:24:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Allison http://www.phdinparenting.com/2010/03/10/anti-princess-heroines-from-my-youth/#comment-106450 Allison Sun, 30 Jan 2011 12:46:25 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=4044#comment-106450 Amusing but are character such as Cinderella and Snow White really that bad. Anyway if my daugther was going to be any kind of female hero, she would definately Cat Woman. Allison Amusing but are character such as Cinderella and Snow White really that bad.

Anyway if my daugther was going to be any kind of female hero, she would definately Cat Woman.

Allison

]]> By: Tannis http://www.phdinparenting.com/2010/03/10/anti-princess-heroines-from-my-youth/#comment-67605 Tannis Thu, 01 Jul 2010 23:08:21 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=4044#comment-67605 We only had CBC growing up,so not much in the way for TV heroines. No, my heroines were in comic books. X-men, ElfQuest, Justice League, Teen Titans, She-Hulk..you name it, I read it. All the women, bar a few non-superheroes were strong, complicated, smart, sometimes stupid, sometimes emotional, all together extremely human in extraordinary conditions. Later on came Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Since then, been pretty low on the heroine department, unless you count Henci Goer ;) I'm glad that characters like Dora, Emily Yueng, Kai-lan are around for my 2 small children. They Love princesses, but they aren't above busting out play swords and fighting monsters (thanks Warcraft :D ) We only had CBC growing up,so not much in the way for TV heroines. No, my heroines were in comic books. X-men, ElfQuest, Justice League, Teen Titans, She-Hulk..you name it, I read it. All the women, bar a few non-superheroes were strong, complicated, smart, sometimes stupid, sometimes emotional, all together extremely human in extraordinary conditions.
Later on came Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Since then, been pretty low on the heroine department, unless you count Henci Goer ;)
I’m glad that characters like Dora, Emily Yueng, Kai-lan are around for my 2 small children. They Love princesses, but they aren’t above busting out play swords and fighting monsters (thanks Warcraft :D )

]]> By: Nia Wesley http://www.phdinparenting.com/2010/03/10/anti-princess-heroines-from-my-youth/#comment-58218 Nia Wesley Mon, 10 May 2010 02:19:11 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=4044#comment-58218 Buffy Anne Summers is definitely the heroine of my youth and an inspiration to females (and males) of all ages. She took care of her dying mother and then picked the coffin and planned the funeral without so much as a phone call from her father. She had a full-time job and her own apartment for four months at seventeen (while she was grieving her "soulmate", framed for the murder of a friend, kicked out of school, kicked out of her home). She knew when to fight for her own happiness and freedom while also knowing when to sacrifice and let go of certain dreams for the greater good and to help others. She excelled in her schoolwork for the two years she matriculated full-time at UCS. She aced the SAT (she studied in a cemetary with her Watcher). She took a lousy minimum-wage job to support her sister. She was a Guidance Counselor for teens. She survived severe depression from being ripped out of Heaven. She went patrolling every night since she turned fifteen years old. She would go head to head with Generals (MacNamara & Voll) and Principals and the Shadowmen and Professors and the Head of the Watcher's Council. She was leading an international paramilitary organization by twenty-two. Her style matured with her character, trading in the short skirts and halters for full length skirts or pants and more modest but still attractive ensembles. Buffy Anne Summers is definitely the heroine of my youth and an inspiration to females (and males) of all ages. She took care of her dying mother and then picked the coffin and planned the funeral without so much as a phone call from her father. She had a full-time job and her own apartment for four months at seventeen (while she was grieving her “soulmate”, framed for the murder of a friend, kicked out of school, kicked out of her home). She knew when to fight for her own happiness and freedom while also knowing when to sacrifice and let go of certain dreams for the greater good and to help others. She excelled in her schoolwork for the two years she matriculated full-time at UCS. She aced the SAT (she studied in a cemetary with her Watcher). She took a lousy minimum-wage job to support her sister. She was a Guidance Counselor for teens. She survived severe depression from being ripped out of Heaven. She went patrolling every night since she turned fifteen years old. She would go head to head with Generals (MacNamara & Voll) and Principals and the Shadowmen and Professors and the Head of the Watcher’s Council. She was leading an international paramilitary organization by twenty-two. Her style matured with her character, trading in the short skirts and halters for full length skirts or pants and more modest but still attractive ensembles.

]]> By: Kristin Craig Lai http://www.phdinparenting.com/2010/03/10/anti-princess-heroines-from-my-youth/#comment-52476 Kristin Craig Lai Sat, 10 Apr 2010 04:32:05 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=4044#comment-52476 I was into everything you mentioned (except for sweet valley high and my degrassi heroines were Spike and Liz) but I was surprised not to see Jem and the Holograms on your list. She ran a record label, fronted an all girl band and ran a group home for girls. I'm so very glad I still have some Jem on VHS to show my kid when she's a little older. Did I mention I love this post? I was into everything you mentioned (except for sweet valley high and my degrassi heroines were Spike and Liz) but I was surprised not to see Jem and the Holograms on your list. She ran a record label, fronted an all girl band and ran a group home for girls. I’m so very glad I still have some Jem on VHS to show my kid when she’s a little older. Did I mention I love this post?

]]> By: Katje Sabin http://www.phdinparenting.com/2010/03/10/anti-princess-heroines-from-my-youth/#comment-49968 Katje Sabin Sat, 27 Mar 2010 13:14:33 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=4044#comment-49968 Meg from Madeleine L'Engle's "Wrinkle in Time" was far and away my most influential character. I'm a little surprised to see she isn't mentioned here! Meg from Madeleine L’Engle’s “Wrinkle in Time” was far and away my most influential character. I’m a little surprised to see she isn’t mentioned here!

]]> By: Stephanie http://www.phdinparenting.com/2010/03/10/anti-princess-heroines-from-my-youth/#comment-47200 Stephanie Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:13:20 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=4044#comment-47200 So many familiar book covers. I think I read almost the entire Sweet Valley Twins series in my tween years...and I read all of the Ramona books before that. Did you ever see the Ramona TV series in the late 80s, by chance? :) So many familiar book covers. I think I read almost the entire Sweet Valley Twins series in my tween years…and I read all of the Ramona books before that. Did you ever see the Ramona TV series in the late 80s, by chance? :)

]]> By: Aimee @ Ain't Yo Mama's Blog http://www.phdinparenting.com/2010/03/10/anti-princess-heroines-from-my-youth/#comment-47160 Aimee @ Ain't Yo Mama's Blog Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:50:54 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=4044#comment-47160 I was more of a He-Man fan when I was younger, but when my brother wouldn't let me play with his, I turned to She-Ra. I believe this is a very complete list of all chicks who rocked in the 1980's. I love it. -Aimee I was more of a He-Man fan when I was younger, but when my brother wouldn’t let me play with his, I turned to She-Ra.

I believe this is a very complete list of all chicks who rocked in the 1980′s. I love it.

-Aimee

]]> By: Lauren http://www.phdinparenting.com/2010/03/10/anti-princess-heroines-from-my-youth/#comment-46980 Lauren Sat, 13 Mar 2010 06:36:27 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=4044#comment-46980 How depressing is this? I think that substituting the Disney "if you're skinny and beautiful you can get a man" message for "if you're skinny and sexy and beautiful you can be powerful" message is splitting hairs (Wonderwoman, Shera, Charlie's Angels). Daphne and Velma is an example of "the smart ugly one knows the answers, but guys only want the leggy pretty one" And if my memory serves, for any remotely realistic female character portrayed in the SVH books, there were 4 that set the feminist movement back 40 years. Disney and all media companies have a responsibility to their shareholders to sell products- they don't have a responsibility to parents to make sure our kids are educated properly. In a perfect world, the two objectives wouldn't conflict. But in the real world, sex and violence sell (even to kids) and the only way that's going to change is if we the parents just turn all this crap off. How depressing is this?
I think that substituting the Disney “if you’re skinny and beautiful you can get a man” message for “if you’re skinny and sexy and beautiful you can be powerful” message is splitting hairs (Wonderwoman, Shera, Charlie’s Angels).
Daphne and Velma is an example of “the smart ugly one knows the answers, but guys only want the leggy pretty one”
And if my memory serves, for any remotely realistic female character portrayed in the SVH books, there were 4 that set the feminist movement back 40 years.
Disney and all media companies have a responsibility to their shareholders to sell products- they don’t have a responsibility to parents to make sure our kids are educated properly. In a perfect world, the two objectives wouldn’t conflict. But in the real world, sex and violence sell (even to kids) and the only way that’s going to change is if we the parents just turn all this crap off.

]]> By: phdinparenting http://www.phdinparenting.com/2010/03/10/anti-princess-heroines-from-my-youth/#comment-46976 phdinparenting Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:59:50 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=4044#comment-46976 <strong>Heather:</strong> I never watched Buffy, so can't comment on that. But I do agree about Bella (from what I've seen). You might be interested in a post I wrote profiling and linking to two posts, one of which was my friend's post on the Twilight thing: <a href="http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/11/21/icomleavwe-day-1/" rel="nofollow">No you don’t, yes you can – lessons for our daughters</a>. Heather:

I never watched Buffy, so can’t comment on that. But I do agree about Bella (from what I’ve seen). You might be interested in a post I wrote profiling and linking to two posts, one of which was my friend’s post on the Twilight thing: No you don’t, yes you can – lessons for our daughters.

]]> By: phdinparenting http://www.phdinparenting.com/2010/03/10/anti-princess-heroines-from-my-youth/#comment-46975 phdinparenting Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:51:14 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=4044#comment-46975 Rashel: My kids have all of the original Pippi Longstocking DVDs. Emma always asks for Pippi ponytails. Rashel:

My kids have all of the original Pippi Longstocking DVDs. Emma always asks for Pippi ponytails.

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