Beyond being a tutoring service, we have a curious and wonderful team of tutors and staff who explore all sorts of ideas, and we want to share them with you! Below, we’ve explored how the ubiquitous “prince and princess” stories send a specific message to our children and how, in the 21st century, we should be changing certain aspects of our fairy tale heroes. The animated video below depicts some of the unfair expectations set for young girls, and introduces the book Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. A book that takes us one step closer to a more balanced society.
Princesses Can Save the Day Too
If you’ve kept an eye out on the adverts in the underground recently, you’ll notice the many posters for Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. This book, which was a major success story on Kickstarter, collecting over $650k, is a new bedtime reading, specifically written to show young girls that women can be more than just princesses. The book tells the real stories of 100 heroic women from Elizabeth I to Serena Williams whom have shown determination, courage and have changed the world (often for the better) in very powerful ways. Its success speaks to the demand of parents of girls looking for new stories that focus on real women.
The marketing surrounding this book is all around how young girls need better role models, as they have been mostly represented as pretty, delicate and weak characters in need of saving by the Prince Charming. Well, it’s about time, because children definitely need some new fairy tale endings. Girls need to be able to be the hero of the story as well!
The Princes’ Burden
Young girls should also be able to save the day indeed but it’s worth remembering that unjust systems, such as gender inequality, are a burden to both sides. What I mean by this is that assuming the boy will grow up to save the day, strong and tall on their white horse, is not a positive message for them either. Watch the video below by Miss Representation on the kind of messages men receive about being/becoming men and what “masculinity” is doing to shape their mind!
As discussed in the documentary, the burden that young men face in “manning up” in their life, or in society at large, is a source of a lot of stress, violence and depression in men. The pressure to be a “real man” leads many to feel inadequate. The three most destructive words a boy can hear growing up is “Be a Man” because it places distinct expectations on them such as to not show emotions, be strong, not be disrespected, dominate etc. All of this leads to pressures that can erode a man’s soul because it forces them to be emotionally constipated which can eventually turn into depression. Men don’t show depression in the same way as women. While women tend to show signs of sadness, men often react by displaying anger. This means that depression is often overlooked in young boys, or misaddressed. So, maybe we should also have books written about men who save the day with their internal strength and power? “Goodnight Stories for Emotionally Strong Rebel Boys”?
Equality is a Blessing to All
So, gender inequality is a burden for both sides. An unjust system does not always benefit one side, especially when both sides are so important to each other. As Kofi Annan beautifully summarises: “Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance”. Both princes and princesses must be equal participants if they want their kingdom to prosper, and use their good power for positive change – Goodness knows we have a lot of bad going on in the world today. Only giving the power to one side will cut the strength of the entire kingdom. Both sides will continue to suffer so long as they both don’t divide the burden and blessings of being a hero.
The happy news is that many of the young children we speak to, both boys and girls, in our tutoring work tell us they agree with these sentiments! They want a world where it makes sense that both boys and girls work together and us adults tell stories of both of their strengths in thoughtful and empowering ways!
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For other blogs we’ve written on empowering boys and girls see here.
If we can be of tutoring or education support to you or your children, or wish to discuss this article with us, contact us at info@ubertutors.co.uk or 02030867311.
