I don’t have kids. Maybe one day, but kids are just not on my radar right now. So my knowledge of kids shows is fairly limited to commercials I see, limited pop culture references, etc. I know that elmo is fairly popular, though when I was a kid, big bird was king on sesame street. I think Barney might still be around. I see a disturbing re-emergence of teenage mutant ninja turtles.
Then there is Dora the Explorer. I’ve never actually sat down and watched the show, but from what I’ve heard, I wholehearted approve of the show. when I was a little girl, cartoons aimed at me were filled with girly unicorns and ponies, little girls who smelled like desserts, or who fought weird “villains” with some kind of rainbow thingy. Oh, and all of them, even, oddly enough, the ponies, were most definitely white. But Dora is different. She wears pants! And uses her imagination! And is…some of kind of vaguely Hispanic heritage! She is assertive and little girlish without being wimpy GIRLY, which I can’t stand. hooray for Dora!
and then I see…
Dora magic wishing craptastic FAIRY.
People, can’t we just let Dora be Dora? Do we have to Barbie-fuck her up? Maybe I’m missing something. Maybe in the cartoon, Dora is occasionally transformed into a magic wishing fairy princess. Somehow, I doubt this. Doesn’t seem very Dora-y.
WHY CAN’T GIRLS HAVE TOYS THAT ARE NOT FAIRY PRINCESSES? WHY MUST BARBIE AND DISNEY AND NOW DORA SHOVE THE LITTLE FAIRY PRINCESS CONCEPT DOWN OUR DAUGHTERS (or theoretical daughters) THROATS??? Nothing says “let magic or maybe a handsome prince come and take care of ALLLL your problems, you special little delicate princess! don’t you worry your pretty little head about ANYTHING!”
GAAAARRRRRRRMMMFFFFFFDDSSSSSSPPPPPPFFFF!!!!
sorry. there is really no reason I should be getting myself worked up over this. just another in a long list of things pissing me off right now.
I will be using “Barbie-fuck” in a sentence today, I guarantee it.
Snowpea is in a Dora (Dowah!) phase right now, and I approve. If my brother ever buys her a goddamn Elmo, he and I will have words, and they won’t be Elmo-approved.
Why does the Dora fairy look cross-eyed to boot?
And no, I don’t think Dora turns into a fairy on the show. I’m pretty sure she and the monkey just hike around. Wearing boots that wouldn’t “go” with a fairy costume.
PS - You will give me the boxing pumpkin pen!
NO! MINE!
Hehehehe, barbie-fuck. If you don’t force kids into gender roles early they’ll never learn them!
She does look cross-eyed. Guess that was a result of the barbie-fucking.
I wholeheartedly Agree, ESC. I don’t get The Teach-Girls-To-Be-Princesses Concept. When I was a little girl, I worshiped Wonder Woman. That’s why I teach drama workshops for 4-7 year olds in Creating Your Own Superhero!
Is “Barbie-fucking” a new name for dry-humping each other because neither of you has genitalia?
On the serious side, I’m with you on this one–forcing girls into gender roles that emphasize being nice and cute and never never being anything disagreeable just make women easier to control and make it harder for them to advocate for themselves when they get into the real world.
Oh, and it blows dogs for quarters.
I worshipped Wonder Woman, too, but for different reasons. I wanted to be tied up w/her golden lariat and watch her change out of her little stars & stripes outfit w/the tiara on the invisible plane.
What were we talking about again?
From my first-hand Dora experience, I will confirm that sometimes Dora pretends she’s a princess. But never, never does she resort to having to “be saved” by a prince. No, she takes her magical princess power (in her imagination, “Say it with me! IMAGINATION!”) and saves her own annoying, repetitive ass.
No, this really pisses me off too.
I hate the way that we are told that we can be ANYTHING WE WANT, er, as long as that fits into some predetermine stereotype society has deemed appropriate for us.
I personally love the Power Puff Girls. They kick ass, but still embrace the girl in them.
I just saw this on another blog and thought it relates to this post.
Michael,
I can Make Your Dreams Come True.
xoxo,
TDR
Sylvana - *SNORT!* that’s funny.
TDR - flirt on your own blog!
Heh! I thought you might like that!