Lauca was given a Little Mermaid play mat and it was on my ‘throw out’ pile for ages because I detest the story of The Little Mermaid (ie. a young woman giving up her voice in order to keep the man she loves? Ugh) and I hate the Disney adaption particularly. But a mat is very handy right now with a baby and I am loath to waste things so I ended up using it on our deck to save the baby’s little head from smacking against the wood floor all the time.
And every day I found myself staring at that play mat and feeling mocked. Sexism and misogyny right there. In your face.
So I took a marker to them. Now I really quite enjoy the mat.
Sexism.
Patriarchy.
The one below I hate particularly, I mean look at the way they depict fat older women, and then compare it to the one above and how they have depicted older men. Incidentally I would have loved to call the one above “viagra”.
Misogyny.
I gave Lauca the choice on what to call this one and she chose “RIOT GRRL”. We can live in hope for poor Ariel.
Yes!
Love your (and Lauca’s) work!
Brilliant! I love it
Oh, that’s brilliant.
You all stole my word! But that’s because it’s such an apt one.
blue milk, you are brilliant, and that was a brilliant idea.
And this is the reason I would not a like girl. Though DP’s daughter is full of Disney crap but I’m doing my best to corrupt her. Our favourite tune at the moment is Pink’s stupid girls!
See, I am of two minds about this – the first being the mind that was raised with Disney, and loves Disney and pretty much everything related to it – the second being the older, more critical me that just can’t stand the sheer amount of patronization, misogyny, racism, classism etc. that infests everything Disney.
I mean, I know we can enjoy things while still being critical of them, without “having” to feel guilty, but I still struggle with it. I suppose I may have avoided a good deal of the Princess-related stuff by having a son (but jury’s out on that, for all I know he might *want* to wear that tiara), but the messages Disney sends to boys are just as bad re: women’s place and status in life.
Disney, why can’t you just clean up and be awesome? That way I can love you again without reservation.
Love it!
Gold. This is a great reminder that any well-meaning but inappropriate gifts can go through redux and come out the other side as something positive! I’ll keep that in mind as the gender stereotyped gifts arrive…