Emma Taylor: Feminism is about choice, compromise and sense of self
As an adolescent, I was aware of the concept of feminism. I was raised with independent female role models and learned the importance of self-sufficiency at a young age. I enjoyed "The Little Mermaid," but I also enjoyed my mother teaching me about women like Gloria Steinem and Jane Goodall.
But female empowerment, in its most rigid terms, was somewhat foreign. My youthful mind was unconcerned with any underlying ulterior motives of the corporate world, or any concept of gender roles.
Over the years, feminism has evolved into many forms and branches and has inspired a wide range of organizations, clubs, music and art. And while some loyal extremists may remain uncompromising in their desire for complete upheaval of roles and practices they deem subjugating to women, most feminist-driven causes (at least those I have been exposed to) have learned that true efficacy is contingent upon at least some level of compromise to make their agenda relevant and applicable in modern society.
Still, personal experience has proven to me that we are still in danger of falling hard for an "all or nothing" approach -- an approach that mirrors the restrictions of early feminism, which in turn mirrored the oppression of the system it intended to rebel against.
In the early 2000s, I can recall buzzing conversation around what we now refer to as "The Disney Princess Complex" theory. Girls who were raised watching the traditional
Disney movies and playing with corresponding toys, the theory went, were brought up with a delusion of utopian codependence and a far too rigid construct for how a young woman should look, act and speak.
The primary concerns from my perspective were solely rooted in the worry that all little girls would want to be beautiful and wealthy and demure and dainty. I recall very little discussion about the fundamental issue: Are our little girls being taught personal authenticity and self awareness from an early age?
I won't be so bold as to attempt an in-depth analysis of such a broad subject. My observations are my own and far from those of a qualified scholar. But as a member of the speculated demographic, I feel a certain level of permission to state my opinion.
Maybe limiting depictions of young women in books and films led me to pick out the pink floral dress, or maybe I just thought it looked pretty. We may never know how far-reaching the sphere of influence is, or to what degree it molds young women. But I know if I had been told to put on a black pantsuit when I wanted a sundress, the real mistake would be in denying my choice - and I would have screamed like hell about it.
If I assume that exposure to the "happy ending" story structure shaped my outlook in a negative way, it is important to ask why. Is it because I was taught to imagine a life free from the true realities of the modern world, or because no matter how it was packaged, I was led to imagine a romantic ideal of myself instead of learning to cultivate my authentic identity?
By focusing on the external manifestations of the issue (e.g. "not all girls wear dresses," "you don't need a prince for a happy ending," etc.) aren't we ignoring the core problem, moreover inflicting the same misguided sense of self onto the actual princesses of the world?
In the millennial age of technology, we have experienced a sort of "pseudo-intellectual hipster renaissance." Access to things like indie music and online books have made quirky cool - and by definition uncool again, but that's another story. And so, by mistaking the need to teach young girls self assurance for the need to teach them to be different, we are creating the same epidemic in a different package. Haven't heroines like Bella Swan simply traded grace for awkwardness and a beautiful singing voice for a well-read mind?
We shouldn't to attempt to stifle the inevitable phases and trends that adolescents go through, and instead instill a strong sense of self that will keep a child moored in the ebb and flow of persuasion. Learning to know and nurture my true desires and values is not a feminist concept, but a human one that affects and holds relevance for all people.
Emma Taylor, a Manatee native who has moved back home in her 20s, can be reached at emmacatherinetaylor@gmail.com
COMING NEXT SUNDAY: Amanda Horne, board chair at PACE Center for Girls of Manatee, questions why anyone with the right to vote would choose any other way.
This story was originally published November 16, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Emma Taylor: Feminism is about choice, compromise and sense of self."