tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250095548371624935.post7455912469843204238..comments2023-11-19T05:18:18.363-05:00Comments on Emily White: Strong Girls Like Pink TooUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250095548371624935.post-74956379539285733642010-12-03T09:56:55.507-05:002010-12-03T09:56:55.507-05:00Last night I finished watching the anime series Fu...Last night I finished watching the anime series Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. And something in some of the final episodes made me think of this post. There are two female characters in the series who are very well done. <br /><br />One is a general in the State Military who is commander of the Northern Forces which she has trained to be an incredibly tough, self sufficient, and unified troop of soldiers. She's a tough cookie herself with a deepish voice who is always accusing everyone around her of being weak compared to her and her soldiers. She fights her brother at one point, a really big muscular guy and a powerful alchemist, and totally kicks his ass. Her last name is even Armstrong. <br /><br />Then there's the woman who taught the main characters alchemy when they were young boys. She's a very powerful alchemist and a strong fighter in her own right. But every time she introduces herself to anyone she say, "Who, me? I'm just a housewife." And that's what she is first and foremost. She's a devoted wife and very maternal. In her past she risked everything she was to try to bring her dead baby back to life (but was unsuccessful). She acts like a mother figure for the main characters, she's always there for them, though she never coddles them. <br /><br />The point is that both of these characters are incredibly strong women in totally different ways. And it jumped right out of the screen at me after seeing them work together during the climax of the series. One is a soldier. One is a housewife. Both are terrific characters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250095548371624935.post-13400040622325740142010-12-01T21:36:04.415-05:002010-12-01T21:36:04.415-05:00I hated pink while I was growing up. Especially Ba...I hated pink while I was growing up. Especially Barbie-Pepto-Bismal pink. But I was still very feminine. I loved skirts and dresses, but those--and my long hair--made me weird among my classmates. Sigh. <br /><br />But yes, young girls need to see all sorts of rolemodels where different strengths play a key. But I don't like reverse sexism, which is what it sounds like that book was doing combined with denigrating wonderful feminine traits. <br /><br />One of my favorite books took those weaker traits of tenderness, willingness to see good in people, and gentleness and turned them into assets even in the eyes of the very supporting characters who'd considered her weak in the beginning. The MC didn't change that much, or even try to change the people around her, but she and her new friends came to realize that she was stronger than she looked. (Danielle of The Stepsister Scheme by Jim C. Hines)Jaleh Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04942272578488986874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250095548371624935.post-79976471783389695322010-11-30T15:35:44.636-05:002010-11-30T15:35:44.636-05:00Totally agree! Although I have to admit I'm no...Totally agree! Although I have to admit I'm not into pink myself I think strong girls being feminine is totally realistic. I feel like a really strong girl would love pink and be proud too ;)<br /><br />And I haven't read Paranormalcy yet but eeeee! I can't wait! <br /><br />:DMia Haysonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01041441666482084762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250095548371624935.post-79429989039764048142010-11-30T13:38:55.913-05:002010-11-30T13:38:55.913-05:00I agree with you. I think there should be a balanc...I agree with you. I think there should be a balance somewhere; and besides, no one's the same way. If some people like pink, great. If they don't, that's perfectly fine too. It's up to the person--by insisting on forgetting pink or something like that, it's like pressing someone into a stereotype.Golden Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08721520451194318436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250095548371624935.post-17225856587212192132010-11-30T12:24:16.859-05:002010-11-30T12:24:16.859-05:00Emily, I can't even tell you how much I agree....Emily, I can't even tell you how much I agree. People who believe that to be feminine is a weakness are anti-woman, even if they call themselves feminists. They haven't even realised their own selves yet. That's a serious problem because they'll never be happy until they recognise themselves.<br /><br />There are strong women throughout history who utilised the power of their womanhood and did great things. They didn't behave like men, or make apologies for their femininity. They didn't have to.<br /><br />There's nothing more beautiful than sacrifice. And self-sacrifice is a Godly act. Whether a man or a woman does it, it's beautiful. It's got nothing to do with gender and everything to do with humanity and compassion.<br /><br />JaiJai Joshihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04858987106548357551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250095548371624935.post-12609408612088607562010-11-30T11:29:11.813-05:002010-11-30T11:29:11.813-05:00This is a great point. There is no reason one can&...This is a great point. There is no reason one can't be feminine AND strong AND smart. It's completely true in real life and I would prefer for my daughters to read stories where it is true as well.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250095548371624935.post-86720614719909841642010-11-30T11:09:32.386-05:002010-11-30T11:09:32.386-05:00Great post, Emily, well said. Gah, let's not g...Great post, Emily, well said. Gah, let's not go overboard with the anti-feminine characters! Strong AND feminine...I like that. Now I have to go ponder my own characters....Carol Riggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14092209912983783974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250095548371624935.post-91911709807935568662010-11-30T10:28:15.562-05:002010-11-30T10:28:15.562-05:00Oh, and I just saw your last line about Evie! Heh...Oh, and I just saw your last line about Evie! Hehehehe! I imagined me as her, too! :DEmily Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06478461123707071108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250095548371624935.post-60013018628262053382010-11-30T10:27:23.830-05:002010-11-30T10:27:23.830-05:00Vic--You're right, and I'm not trying to s...Vic--You're right, and I'm not trying to say a girl HAS to be a certain way to be considered a well-rounded woman. However, there are already a LOT of arguments for girls being these tough little bruisers who hate dolls and ponies. I wanted to give an argument for the other girls, too. It seems they're getting less and less of a voice lately.Emily Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06478461123707071108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250095548371624935.post-52349952066941217122010-11-30T08:42:56.400-05:002010-11-30T08:42:56.400-05:00strong women CAN like pink. but women can HATE pi...strong women CAN like pink. but women can HATE pink and still be feminine. <br />you can have short hair, wear jeans, and be able to dominate a fight- and still be feminine. short hair can be WAY more convenient. i'm not athletic, but i'm guessing that pants would be less restricting to wear in a fight. <br />you can be practical and be just as much of a woman as a gal who loves kitten heels. <br /><br />i don't think it's a good message to tell girls they can't like rainbows and puppies if they want to be strong...<br />but i don't think it's a good message to tell girls they must like pink and have long hair to be feminine either.<br /><br />can you tell i hate pink? :)<br /><br />and men can (and should) be self-sacrificial too... i'm sure you know WAY more about that than me from your time in the service.<br /><br />funny thing though- when i read paranormalcy, i kept imaging you as Evie! :)vic caswell https://www.blogger.com/profile/01218698236837610704noreply@blogger.com