Not Where I Started Going

(I started going in a different direction with this post then it went this way.)

I keep meaning to write for this blog, I really do. I even have some really good rants half done in my head. Problem is with a bunch of them they are time appropriate. If I don't get them down at a certain time they no longer seem so relevant.

I will however take a moment to reflect on gender stereotypes. This is one that bugs me on a regular basis and I know I'm not the only one. It goes through strong movements on line and then periods where people move on to different topics.

Today is a good day to reflect on it even briefly though.

The cast for the new Star Wars film has been announced. Yes others will be announced further down the line I'm sure, and no one really knows what it's going to be about yet. Or at least not in detail. The problem I have is the problem many fans have - 'What the hell happened to the awesome female characters'?

No offence to Princess Leia but seriously the extended universe has some amazing characters that aren't even getting a look in. Sure I understand not wanting to delve into the extended universe that already stands but that is no excuse to ignore the fantastic inroads it has made, especially for the universe's young female fans.

My eldest cried when Ahsoka said she was leaving, then again when told that was the end of the show. These characters give our girls something different to model themselves on. I much rather she watch Star Wars, Stargate and Firefly, than those vapid shows about boys and girls and girls trying to get a boyfriend. Meeting Amanda Tapping was a magical experience for her.

Now though one of her favourite franchises is returning to some out dated male centric story line. Give me a break. We girls are sick of being told the weapons are for boys whilst the dresses and makeup and kitchen utensils are for us. (At least in the kitchen are knives…never piss me off in the kitchen.) Women are strong and capable and more and more of us are at the point where we've had enough of the airbrushed crap that is served up to us.

We need to remember that we are who we are, we don't need to live up to some ugly old man's version of beauty, or some insecure media personality's idea of acceptable looks. We should be happy with who we are. I want my girls to be true to themselves. If that means tattoos and a shaved head, then so be it. If they prefer a suit to jeans then fine. If they want to create a kick-arse female superhero who's bits are (heaven forbid) covered by fabric, then more power to them.

Girls are no longer restricted to the home boys. We are out there; in the work place, on the sporting field, in space, in the labs, kicking your arse at on-line video games. Wherever you are we can be. Sci-fi and fantasy has often been groundbreaking in shattering the stereotypes, now is not the time for it to go back on that. Let's keep going forward.

Monster High

Well todays little rant comes to you courtesy of a toy manufacturer. While sitting eating my dinner, watching a kids show and otherwise minding my own business an ad for some new dolls came on. So what you may think, they come up with new toys all the time. I won't disagree. I already have Bratz dolls on my 'not to have' list and this new range has been added that list. These dolls are called the Monster High dolls.

Let me explain, they are supposed to be the teenage kids of famous monsters like Dracula and so on. It's not the gruesome nature of these dolls I particularly object too, though I'm sure there are those out there who think I should. It is in fact the knowledge that there is a book called Monster High and guess what the characters are the teenage kids of monsters. Focus being on teenage kids, which makes this book a young adult novel not a kiddy one.

While I think there could be a lot of fun to be had with monster dolls I'm concerned the focus is wrong. It is the same as it is with many of these doll lines, accessories and clothes. Do we really need green dolls that look stitched together like Frankenstein dressing in thigh high boots and mini skirts?

I'm all for saying appearance doesn't matter but somehow I think the focus is going to be on 'look as long as I'm skinny and wear the right skimpy clothes I will be liked' message, rather than the 'I have scars and am different but that doesn't matter because I'm still look hot and so am liked', message.

Yes there have been Barbie dolls (and her many, many fashions) for years, (though I have to say I never had one), but at least she actually took on different occupations and wasn't only a fashion model.

It all comes around again to why I like Dora, the original incarnation. A girl who is the same age as the girls who play with her, who dresses age appropriately and has adventures. Better yet she is also smart and bilingual.

I know somewhere along the way I have turned into a grumpy mother but seriously I want my girls to grow up believing in their abilities rather than the idea that appearance is the most important thing. I want my girls to grow and to live, and I find it sad that society seems to encourage our young girls to be obsessed with how they look and being a teenager. I can't keep my kids young forever and I wouldn't want them to be but neither do I want them to grow up quicker than they have to.