Yet again we’re raising a little one who doesn’t quite conform to societal expectations. Disneyland Paris offers a magical experience where most of us would expect little girls to be attracted to the iconic beautiful Disney Princess’, while little boys stare in ore at, and inspire to be, the epic Marvel superheroes…
Not our little girl. She squealed with glee and stamped her feet at the sight of the larger than life Iron man statue. We’re not sure where her love of the Marvel hero’s began, but I suspect it was at Aunty Em’s where she was introduced to Harvey’s venom soft toy.
In every Disney shop we visited, she was instantly drawn to the oversized point of sale displays that advertised Hulk, Ironman, Captain Marvel, and Spider-Man merchandise. At the time we didn’t really think her behaviour was ‘odd’ or different and thought that her new found love of Marvel was cute!
On returning home we embraced her new ‘faze’ with buying her Marvel figures, which she called cool. Simon and I had a very rare day to ourselves and popped into town. We spotted some Marvel clothing in the section of the shop that was labeled ’Boys’. But still, we knew that we had buy her the Spiderman Pyjamas and tracksuit, alongside the Marvel hoodie, which again, she loved and called cool.
I can’t help but ask myself why were the clothes we bought for our little girl in a section of the shop labeled ‘Boys’?
Why are there not any dresses with Marvel characters on? I mean I’ve looked because girls wear dresses right?
Why in 2022 did the nursey staff member, who has known our little girl for over 12 months, say ‘oh bless him’ when I handed her over, wearing her blue Marvel hoodie, at the nursey door this morning?
slip of the tongue, unconscious mind, a busy member of staff just not thinking, or was it due to how our minds have been brainwashed by socially constructed norms to associate the colour blue and superheroes and with boys?
food for thought…
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