General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCatholic school to girls: Be able to rescue yourself. Don't wait for a prince.
The campaign, created by Doe-Anderson, a Louisville-based advertising agency, is meant to reflect one of the school's core goals: to help its students become independent, productive women in the real world. For example, during entrepreneur courses, students create real businesses and donate the proceeds to women in Sudan; in chemistry class, they clean up simulated oil spills. Its also an attempt to woo prospective students to the school, which serves grades 9 to 12. Our ad campaigns have been pretty traditional in the past, but this year we wanted to really get the message across that Mercy students have the power to write their own stories, Amy Elstone, principal at Mercy Academy, tells Yahoo Shine. When we showed the campaign to current students, many said they would have loved to hear this message when they were in middle school.
The campaign comes at a time when Disney itself is taking baby steps to revamp its princess archetype. The upcoming Disney film Frozen features a princess named Anna who embarks on a dangerous mission to save her kingdom from a fate of eternal winter, and in May, Disney pulled a glammed-up version of Princess Merida from "Brave" after fans complained that the makeover (which removed her bow and arrow, smoothed her frizzy hair, and cinched her waist) set a poor example for young girls. And in 2009, Disney debuted The Princess and the Frog about an African American waitress turnedbbusinesswoman who opens a restaurant (named after herself).
It's not yet clear whether or not the anti-princess message will resonate with social media-happy eighth graders aging out of Disneys target demographic of 9 to14, since young women are still bombarded with messages that they need a man all those romantic comedies where the quirky career gal finally finds happiness, thanks to the affable guy she knew all along; websites that encourage ladies to seek out sugar daddies; and an entire industry that aims to convince every living, breathing female that nothing she'll ever experience will trump her wedding day. Many women, young and old, harbor fantasies of being saved by a prince, Jennifer Baumgardner, author and feminist activist, tells Yahoo Shine. Its not a literal desire for women; its the subconscious idea that life isnt complete until a man is in it. And its never too late to reinforce the idea that women should be independent.
http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/school-s-girl-power-campaign-is-a-hit-215808982.html
Niceguy1
(2,467 posts)Can dump you on your ass just as fast
davidn3600
(6,342 posts)malaise
(269,187 posts)That Cinderella story has done way more harm than good to young women and the non-stop coverage of the corrupt royals of the earth hasn't helped a bit.
Jamastiene
(38,187 posts)K&R
skepticscott
(13,029 posts)That fairy tale they have no problem giving the hard sell on. Because...well....that's different
Wilts10
(5 posts)All girls need to know that they do not need a man to feel complete.
ejpoeta
(8,933 posts)I have 3 girls and have read my share of princess stories. While I am reading them I keep thinking about how lame it is. And at the end I tell them there is a reason it ends at 'happily ever after'. I agree.... why do we need to have a man to be complete? to go out and have our life. It's nice having someone to share you life with, but that should not supercede your own goals. I used to have a book... can't remember the name, but it had alternative endings for the princess stories.. They would tell the princess stories with a twist.