We were attending an event aimed at empowering girls. This mom was sitting nervously in the audience beside me. She was wringing her hands and sitting on the edge of her seat. When it was time to ask questions, her hand shot up. It was her time to confess…
MY DAUGHTER LOVES PRINCESSES
She tearfully told the powerful panelist of women how she tried her best to deter her young daughter from liking princesses, and Barbies, and the color pink. She had failed. Her daughter enjoyed dressing up in her pink princess gown while playing with her Barbies. “What can I do?” she asked with a single tear dripping down her face.
The audience was silent and looked from that mom to the panelists. There was at least 15 seconds of silence. You could hear a pin drop. What were they going to say? How would they handle this mom who had broken the feminist code?
Much to my relief, the panelists were spot on.
“IF SHE LIKES THEM, LET HER PLAY WITH THEM.”
No judgment. No recommendation to burn them in the back yard. I was so relieved.
THIS IS TRUE FEMINISM.
There’s a false premise that to raise strong girls that they need to reject things that are stereotypically feminine. You know what I’m taking about right?
GLITTER, PINK, FRILLY, FASHION, SOFT.
But true feminism isn’t about steering girls towards typically masculine behaviors. It’s about allowing girls to embrace every aspect of who they are without attempting to conform to the girly-girl persona physically or behaviorally.
LET YOUR DAUGHTER BE WHO SHE WANTS TO BE.
When she is allowed to explore and discover the things that interest her, she’ll be excited to try new things, take on challenges, overcome the obstacles.
THAT’S TRUE EMPOWERMENT.
With Heart,
Coach Sheri
