I received this question from Tom who is trying to find some role models for his girlfriend’s daughter…
My girlfriend’s 5yr old daughter wants to be a Knight, or Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, possibly even Chewbacca. We both think this is great – however she believes that only boys can be these things and thinks she has to be a boy just so she can.
We’d really like to convince her that you don’t have to be a boy to do ‘boys things’, but while searching for suitable books, cartoons, films or other material I’m drawing a blank. As far as I can tell, the kind of female role-models that might get the message across don’t appear in children’s books or films at all – ideally a children’s version of Ripley from Aliens*. A female character that’s clearly the hero – not a sidekick, not needing rescuing, and not solving her problems by baking cakes. She doesn’t want to be the princess.
Can anyone suggest suitable material?
Thanks,
Tom
* Even though Leia (Star Wars) fits a lot of the requirements she never gets a mention.
I think this is an excellent question. When I was growing up (some thirty-odd years ago), I probably would have thought along the same lines as Tom’s daughter. I never wanted to be Princess Leia either. After all, the guys were the ones with the cool light sabres, right? All Leia had was that wimpy little gun.
Back in the day, there just weren’t a lot of female superheroes. And the ones we did have didn’t seem to possess any super cool powers. The guys seemed to have cornered the market on super powers and being the hero.
For example, Superman had strength and the x-ray vision thing happening. Those were super powers he could physically do. Wonder Woman could do some cool stuff, too, but she didn’t physically do anything. She needed tools to get the job done (magic lasso, the invisible, jet, the wrist bands, etc.).
My kids (in their teens), had a lot better options growing up. Kim Possible comes to mind immediately as well as the The Powerpuff Girls for starters. These of course are only in cartoon form, unlike Star Wars and SuperMan/Wonder Woman where real people playing the part.
So let’s fast forward to 2013. What are some female role models for young children? How about Merida from the Disney movie Brave. I know she made an impression. The sheer number of Archery t-shirts I sold this holiday season is proof of that!
I loved Fiona from Shrek. She could definitely hold her own. Oh and how about The Incredibles? The mom (Elastigirl) is the one who ends up saving the day in that movie. One of my all-time most-watched movies! In fact, one of my favorite quotes comes from The Incredibles:
Settle down? Are you kidding? I’m at the top of my game! I’m right up there with the big dogs! Girls, come on. Leave the saving of the world to the men? I don’t think so. ~ElastiGirl
I know there are a ton more ideas out there that I haven’t thought of or don’t know about. So help me out! What would you suggest?
11 comments
Robert Meyer
There was also a ‘live action’ TV show called “The Secrets Of Isis” aired in the mid-1970s on Saturday mornings. It was about a high school science teacher who found an amulet while at an archeological dig in Egypt that, when she said, “O mighty Isis” while holding it, would transform her into the Goddess Isis. The story line would be one of her students, typically a boy, made some bad choices and get himself into trouble, she would change into her secret identity of Isis and, by using her Goddess powers, save him. There was always a moral to be taught. For a kid’s show, it was very cool, and predated shows like Wonder Woman and The Bionic Woman.
My favorite Wonder Woman was the first season when the episodes were extreamly close to the original comic books from the early 1940s. The only real difference was the character on Etta Candy, instead of being a student she was a coworker of Diana Prince on TV.
Robert Meyer
When it comes to comic books, there’s one called “Birds of Prey” comes to mind. In the mid 1990s there was a used bookstore in a strip-mall. A few doors down, there was also a comic book store and one day I thought I’d see what the kids are reading now. I saw issue one of “Birds of Prey” about two young women, Oracle and Black Canary, fighting crime in Gotham City (Batman was nowhere to be found). What really intrigued
me most was that Oracle was in a wheelchair, since was paralyzed myself, and I’d never heard of a handicapped superhero before. Oracle was a computer whiz and ran the operation from her supercomputer and it was Black Canary who actually beat up the bad guys. Eventually I found out that Oracle was formerly Batgirl/Barbara Gordon whose paralysis was from something that the Joker had done. The comics store moved after a couple of years and I never kept up with the story. There was a TV show on it, having three characters instead of two, but in was cancelled after the first year. There was an interesting similarity in the two women defending Gotham City and the story of Deborah and Yael defending ancient Israel: Oracle ‘talking’ to her computer (like Deborah talking to God) and Black Canary (like Yael) actually does the skull cracking.
As far as live actresses on an ‘action’ TV show, Emma Peel of “The Avengers”: a judo throw with a witty comment about Shakespeare or Poe. A lot of fun, and she certainly wasn’t a damsel in distress.
For real women who lived exciting and dangerous lives, there’s Margaret of Anjou and her near contemporary Joan of Arc. Closer to home, Harriet Tubman was risking her life each day with the Underground Railroad.
gretchen
Thanks Halie – Welcome to Girls Can’t WHAT?!
Yes, Annie and Taylor are both excellent choices. Of course, I’m a huge Annie fan and I’ve read a lot about her. My dad says we are actually related to her somewhere in our family tree.
I do like Taylor’s music and I’ve seen some clips of how she interacts with fans. To me, how an artist interacts with her fans shows more her than anything. Taylor is genuine and I think she does make a great role model. Thanks for sharing!
Halie
Hi! I may be way off on this one, but it’s my personal opinion. I know there are many female role-models for kids, but a couple that stick out to me are Taylor Swift and Annie Oakley. :)
Yes, Taylor Swift writes songs about love and breakups, but they are not all about that. I’m 19 and I find her really empowering because she stays true to herself and inspires kids and people of all ages to be themselves. She has a good image and big heart, and to me she demonstrates courage by writing songs about her life for the world to hear.
Annie Oakley… Funny thing actually, Annie is the reason why I stumbled on to your site just now. I’m currently learning about her in a history classes, so I wanted to find some quotes. I just Annie because she created a new platform for women.
Love your site!
gretchen
Tom – I agree with you on the “impossible curves” of the women, but on the flip side I don’t know any man with a body like Superman or any of the male cartoons. Cartoons just aren’t meant to look like real people. ;)
Yes, the women’s outfits are ridiculously skimpy, but while the men are more covered I don’t know anyone in real life that would parade around in tights like they do either. :D
I’m glad you have a few new role models to research. And it’s ok if she becomes the “stereotypical girl” – whatever that happens to be. We’re not all tomboys here. She’d find herself in good company no matter what her interests are.
Tom
Thanks for the suggestions!
Esther – Unfortunately female comic book super heroes inevitably wear skin-tight/revealing clothing so even when they’re otherwise awesome, empowered, intelligent and kick-ass the message gets tangled up with having impossible curves and dressing sexy to show them off.
It’s not that I think all of them should dress in loose clothing that covers them from head to toe, it’s that as far as I know every single one of them has the curves and the tiny outfit. Also they tend to play supporting roles to male characters.
Judi – Buffy’s a little scary for a 5yr old (this one, anyhow), otherwise it’d be a good one. Not sure about Xena, will think about it.
Kel – I’ll look into Anne of Green Gables, sounds like a good one, thanks.
Sarah – Some good suggestions there, I’ll definitely look into those, thanks!
Gretchen – Thanks for posting the question and your own suggestions! I’ve got quite a few to look at now.
For what it’s worth I recently found “The Paper Bag Princess” which is a good one.
Also in the last month or so she’s stopped thinking she has to be a boy to do the things she likes, and has even worn dresses to parties because she chose to. So in another couple of months expect a message asking how to stop her turning into a stereotypical girl, hahaha.
Tom
Esther
There aren’t a lot of movies where a woman is the main action hero. I can think of a few characters that I enjoy:
Storm from the marvel comics & x-men movies,
Electra, also from marvel and the movie,
The invisible woman from the movie “Fantastic 4”,
Catwoman
and Lara Croft
Judi Epstein
How about Xena or Buffy Summers.They both are strong female characters that kick butt & take names.
gretchen
Sarah and Kelli – those are both great responses and excellent suggestions for female role models. Thanks!
Kel
My daughter loves the period series, “Anne of Green Gables.”
While it’s not an action film or anything remotely like a superhero, it very clearly illustrates the disadvantages Anne had to face in growing up in a society that favored boys and traditional girls’ roles. She bucked the societal norms/expectations and became successful and independent in her own right, and changed the minds of the society around her. She refused to just “settle down” and get married as was expected and went on to become a teacher and a published author – something not typically done by women in that day and age.
I think it’s a hugely inspiring story. In fact, I think most of the women in the series are inspiring, strong women.