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Question to girls. Why is so cool to be a princess/fairy ?

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Desertopa Not Actually Indie Since: Jan, 2001
Not Actually Indie
#51: Jan 22nd 2011 at 4:33:02 PM

Or you could take princess as "As long as you're beautiful and good at chatting up people at parties, you will get a man who can take care of the kingdom and rescue you from the dragon/monster/whatever" and fairy as "wait in your misery til a fairy helps you out" There's alot of unfortunate implications in the picture, especially consindering the fairy tales roots it has in the western world. I mean, beside Rebellious Princess, how many conventions are associated with capable women who are able to tackle problems on their own and Princess/fairies. A Nd then count how many are not.

Why should we consider things like riding off to battle in shining armor particularly admirable though? Warriorhood is widely seen as admirable or desirable, but at best it tends to solve problems caused by other warriors. A lot of stereotypically male behaviors that people today like to see female characters engage in, things that show agency and initiative, are really not very constructive.

A lot of our behaviors and preferences are rooted in what our ancestors found desirable. It doesn't have to be on a level that we're aware of it, but we have qualities that are ingrained because people in the past found them attractive; every one of your ancestors is someone who managed to successfully reproduce. Being pretty and independently rich, with lots of powerful suitors competing for your hand, is comparatively a great way to have surviving offspring, so it's no wonder if we've evolved so that a lot of people tend to find that kind of scenario appealing. Keep in mind that there's no reason why the association with finding a mate has to be conscious, it works just as well either way.

As for faeries, wouldn't you want to be able to fly and zap stuff with magical powers? I think that would be pretty kickass.

edited 22nd Jan '11 4:33:43 PM by Desertopa

...eventually, we will reach a maximum entropy state where nobody has their own socks or underwear, or knows who to ask to get them back.
Malph (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#52: Jan 22nd 2011 at 4:35:25 PM

Being that I was in elementary school in the middle to late 90's, everyone on the playground was a Pokemon Trainer.

edited 22nd Jan '11 4:40:17 PM by Malph

Aondeug Oh My from Our Dreams Since: Jun, 2009
Oh My
#53: Jan 22nd 2011 at 4:36:50 PM

I will forever view Desertopa as a fairy.

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah
Iaculus Pronounced YAK-you-luss from England Since: May, 2010
Pronounced YAK-you-luss
#54: Jan 22nd 2011 at 4:36:57 PM

Why be a princess? Legions of servants waiting on you hand and foot, the reverence of the populace thanks to riding on the back of national pride, the smokingest young men in the country lining up at your door, all the wonderful toys you could ever want... and the clothing's pretty pimp, too.

Why be a fairy? Nature bends to your will. The very laws of physics trip over themselves to accommodate you. You have the limitless powers of creation and destruction at your fingertips, every day is playtime, and you get to sparkle prettily whilst you're busy rearranging the universe to better suit your tastes. Plus, the flying's pretty fun.

Yeah, I think I can see the appeal of both.

What's precedent ever done for us?
Desertopa Not Actually Indie Since: Jan, 2001
Not Actually Indie
#55: Jan 22nd 2011 at 4:44:17 PM

I will forever view Desertopa as a fairy.

My mom thought I was going to be one. Maybe it was all the times I played dress up with my sister?

...eventually, we will reach a maximum entropy state where nobody has their own socks or underwear, or knows who to ask to get them back.
Aondeug Oh My from Our Dreams Since: Jun, 2009
Oh My
#56: Jan 22nd 2011 at 4:49:31 PM

I hated dressing up when I was little unless I got to be something badass like a ninja. I had not yet learned that fairies are actually pretty bitchin' and not so nice.

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah
Karalora Since: Jan, 2001
#57: Jan 22nd 2011 at 5:10:04 PM

laculus said pretty much what I was going to.

My sister and I played princesses and fairies when we were kids (we played lots of other things too, of course), and in both cases, it was all about being glamorous and sparkly and being able to make things happen. A princess says "Do this," and a dozen servants hop to do it. A fairy waves her magic wand, and whatever she desires comes to be.

Come to think of it, we played fairies more often than princesses, because being able to fly and do magic is way cooler than merely being rich with servants. But even our princess games were never about romance or tea parties or whatever Disney's Marketing Department thinks little girls should be interested in. Sometimes there was a ball, but the important thing was comparing gowns, not who you were dancing with. More often, the princesses would get kidnapped by an evil witch or somebody, and would have to escape—on their own, might I point out. We'd usually meet up with the princes halfway. And then the fairies would blast holy hell out of the evil witch's castle. Then it was time to play Thundercats.

Ah, good times.

Aondeug Oh My from Our Dreams Since: Jun, 2009
Oh My
#58: Jan 22nd 2011 at 5:17:34 PM

Wow that sounds like it must have been a blast, Kara. I hated fairies at the time sadly though I did like princesses of a certain sort and would settle for being one if I got to be a badass one like Nina from Breath of Fire... My childhood games were like shitty crossover fanfiction acted out by a girl and a boy who had a love for harem anime, RP Gs, and giant robots. It was...a thing.

edited 22nd Jan '11 5:17:49 PM by Aondeug

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah
Pingu Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: In Lesbians with you
#59: Jan 22nd 2011 at 5:35:42 PM

I'm not ashamed to say I was always really into fairies and princesses, for reasons listed by Iaculus and Karalora.

They're just... pretty and sparkly and fantastical.

Erock Proud Canadian from Toronto Since: Jul, 2009
Proud Canadian
#60: Jan 22nd 2011 at 6:41:26 PM

I trust fairy is not some sort of euphanism, right?

edited 22nd Jan '11 6:41:35 PM by Erock

If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.
AlirozTheConfused Bibliophile. from Daz Huat! Since: May, 2010
Bibliophile.
#61: Jan 22nd 2011 at 8:23:21 PM

AS far as I "get" it, Princesses represent power, authority, and money. It's like the dream of ruling the world, without having to work for it.

And fairies, as far as I "get" them, get to fly (awesome, and a constant human dream), and mess with reality with magic (another constant human dream).

So, what little girls want is to rule the world, fly, and mess with reality.

Never be without a Hat! Hot means heat. I don't care if your usage dates to 1300, it's my word, not yours. My Pm box is open.
MarkVonLewis Since: Jun, 2010
#62: Jan 22nd 2011 at 8:28:43 PM

If I had a daughter, I'd probably raise her on action girl-type characters instead of Disney princesses and action movies instead of fairy tales.

After all, there's nothing that Snow White or Rapunzel can teach that Jason Statham can't teach far better and with far better methods.

Aondeug Oh My from Our Dreams Since: Jun, 2009
Oh My
#63: Jan 22nd 2011 at 9:32:34 PM

But fairy tales have asshole rabbits and fairies and iron shoes and awesome!

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah
Pingu Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: In Lesbians with you
Beholderess from Moscow Since: Jun, 2010
#65: Jan 22nd 2011 at 9:43:15 PM

Strangely, this one never saw princess as someone who has any sort of power when she was a child. Someone rich, pampered and pretty, sure, but also someone utterly depending on the will of royal parents, doing nothing, and eventually claimed as reward by hero.

Hmm, guess this one was a weird child.

If we disagree, that much, at least, we have in common
MarkVonLewis Since: Jun, 2010
#66: Jan 22nd 2011 at 9:51:40 PM

wild mass guess Maybe the round-about message in the princess ideal is to teach people that they are a prize and shouldn't have to settle for something they don't want. Maybe it's an esteem thing.wild mass guess

neoYTPism Since: May, 2010
#67: Jan 22nd 2011 at 10:00:20 PM

"The reason this all appeals to females is because we have an innate knowledge of the truth of fairies and are at heart trolls." - Aondeug

... even if you're a troll at heart, doesn't mean you get to project that onto the rest of your gender.

TheMightyAnonym PARTY HARD!!!! from Pony Chan Since: Jan, 2010
PARTY HARD!!!!
#68: Jan 22nd 2011 at 10:08:22 PM

I subverted the princess/fairy thing with the older of my two sisters, but did not do so with the younger.

The older is very much into action-girl type things, and has viewed an enormous amount of media with me, including Army Of Darkness and the Little Shop Of Horrors. The younger has aspirations of being a doctor, teacher, or Princess Peach.

Interesting, I have just as much influence as expected.

Why should we consider things like riding off to battle in shining armor particularly admirable though? Warriorhood is widely seen as admirable or desirable, but at best it tends to solve problems caused by other warriors. A lot of stereotypically male behaviors that people today like to see female characters engage in, things that show agency and initiative, are really not very constructive.

The virtues can be very constructive, so long as they are interpreted wisely (I.E., you don't confuse avoiding a needless battle with cowardice).

"Chivalry" is an interesting little nugget, as while it can have unfortunate implications in its imbalance, it is in itself good-natured. I especially love Seto No Hanayome's portrayal of it.

The ending to that show was (I don't usually swear, so this is big), pretty damn awesome.

My sister liked it as well.

The knight in shining armor can also represent a fetish for some, I'm sure, given the way they stereotypically show up in women's fantasies in television and such.

Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! ~ GOD
OOZE Don't feed the plants! from Transsexual,Transylvania Since: Dec, 1969
Don't feed the plants!
#69: Jan 22nd 2011 at 10:10:55 PM

Which version of Little Shop Of Horrors? The shitfilm or the awesomeplay?

I'm feeling strangely happy now, contented and serene. Oh don't you see, finally I'll be, somewhere that's green...
Drakyndra Her with the hat from Somewhere Since: Jan, 2001
Her with the hat
#70: Jan 22nd 2011 at 10:12:08 PM

When we got a pool put in, my little sister and I used to play mermaids.

And then I almost drowned her. Whoops.

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Aondeug Oh My from Our Dreams Since: Jun, 2009
Oh My
#71: Jan 22nd 2011 at 10:19:22 PM

It's called a joke Neo.

MY CONSCIENCE SAYS NOT TO BE A BITCH. I am conflicted now.

edited 22nd Jan '11 11:05:13 PM by Aondeug

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah
Beholderess from Moscow Since: Jun, 2010
#72: Jan 22nd 2011 at 10:59:06 PM

@The Mighty Anonym

Offtopic, I know, and I apologise to the mods in advance, but

This one almost wishes she was your little sister. Despite having a completely awesome big brother of her own already.

edited 22nd Jan '11 10:59:32 PM by Beholderess

If we disagree, that much, at least, we have in common
TheMightyAnonym PARTY HARD!!!! from Pony Chan Since: Jan, 2010
PARTY HARD!!!!
#73: Jan 22nd 2011 at 11:02:32 PM

I'm very honored :)

And I would love to have another sister!

Of all the things I have in this world, my two sisters my greatest love. We're very close.

Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! ~ GOD
TheMightyAnonym PARTY HARD!!!! from Pony Chan Since: Jan, 2010
PARTY HARD!!!!
#75: Jan 22nd 2011 at 11:49:25 PM

That's my all-time-favorite XKCD strip.

edited 22nd Jan '11 11:49:54 PM by TheMightyAnonym

Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! ~ GOD

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