I love Super Girl and the fact she has her own show now is amazing! I’ve liked her since I was little. I’m not sure if it is the fact she has super powers, in my opinion looks like me, or the fact she is just kick butt awesome. Anyways, back to the conversation I was saying how much I enjoy her show the person asked me if I really need a “girl power” show, I think there was something else added to it, but I was in shock a bit by what was said. At first I tried to defend her and let’s just say when I am put on the spot with something I am not at all prepared for I do not defend my case very well. However, it got me thinking if I do need a girl power show. After thinking about it for a couple a days I came up with an answer that satisfied me. I do and I do not need a girl power show, let me explain myself.
I love the fact that there is a girl super hero to “look up to.” As a little kid I always favored the girl super hero shows over any with a guy in it, even though my options were limited with the variety of girl super heroes. I remember watching the Power Puff Girls as a child and how excited I was when I found a guy friend that wanted to play make believe of it with me or Sailor Moon (which was my all-time favorite super hero that focused on girl power) and playing it with my friends and fighting crime in my back yard. Those were shows I liked not because it was “girl power” but because it showed me that I didn’t need to be a guy to be awesome I was capable of being myself and saving the world. I also loved that in my super hero shows it did not just look at strength or a super power to save the day, it looked at using how smart a girl was, her talents, or something they did every day to help save the day. It encouraged me to be confident and know that I don’t need a superpower to save the day.
The reason that I said I don’t need a “girl power” show in my life is because I really don’t. I did not need a female super hero to show me a girl can save the day I would have figured that out and probably would have watched more boy super hero shows. However, I think that it helped me realize it sooner in my life. As a child (and even as an adult) looking up to someone real or fictional helped me when I was down or need a smile. Girls today are not full of confidence. As much as society wants to push that and make someone confident automatically it does not work that way. Females and males too need to build their own confidence and find it through themselves. Giving a person a role model helps with that confidence builder. Think about it a two year old is learning to walk we buy them a walk like Elmo toy to help them; we are giving them something to look up to and aim to be like. When they are a toddler we say you want to be big like Batman or Daddy you have to eat your vegetables. Parents pick the role models at the beginning of our lives but as we grow and mature we pick our own.
Today with super heroes I like both male and female ones equally but if someone asks me who I want to be I am going to say a girl, even if it is the Hulk or Captain America I refuse to be a guy (just try not to make the costumes so sexy but that is a whole other issue for another day). Now for Super Girl I love her for more reasons now as an adult. Yes, because she has super powers, looks like me, and kicks butt. Just like I liked her as a kid but (a bit of help from her show since I haven’t had the opportunity to read her comics) I like her back story, the fact that she never gives up, she makes working a real job, saving the world, and dating super easy (which I am still just working on balancing school and work). She makes me smile, brings out the child in me, and makes me think “you know what I know things can get tough but I can do this I have the confidence to be able to do anything I want to.” To answer that guy’s question no I do not need a girl super hero. However, I want one because sometime I need a pick me up reminder of just how SUPER I can be.
Role models should be real not fictional. Super hero's male or female can provide a case study in ethics.
ReplyDeleteEveryone can try to be a hero to somebody in their lives. Sometimes you can be a hero and not even be aware of it. You can be a role model to others.
Nice thoughts, Cassie.
Nice comment Rich. I do agree that Role Models should be real and not fiction, however I know that children will tend to look up to fictional role models. As well as people who grew up in unhealthy enviornments tend to look up to fictional beings instead of real people.
DeleteCassie, that is an outstanding and insightful comment about kids looking for role models in unhealthy environments. I hadn't considered that. Thank you for reminding me. I guess, if the end result is helpful to someone, it doesn't matter if it is fictional or real.
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