The truth is, I really wanted to call this blog "The Decline of Heroines in Modern Literature," but I really didn't think anyone would read it. haha. In retrospect, I probably went too far in the other direction. Oh well. Admittedly, I've read some pretty stupid books in the last few years. Stupid, but entertaining. In all this thoughtless and cheap reading, I'm noticing a pattern that I find completely disturbing. More and more often, it seems that the "heroines" in books these days are all the same, especially if there's a romantic storyline involved. They're pale brunettes who are shy, awkward, and have serious self esteem issues. They're quiet, afraid, and fragile. They build their worlds around their love interests to the point that they completely fall apart and become useless when the romance is on the rocks. They feel unworthy. But somehow, all this despair and insecurity pierces the heart of the Adonis and they get their fairytale.
When I was younger, I completely bought into all that shit. I really thought that if I walked around being broody and pathetic, someone would want to come and save me. But you know, no one digs being around a downer all the time. It's annoying. Also, I didn't have the constitution for that sort of meekness. haha. Seriously, though. What IS that? Of course, there's nothing wrong with being a pale brunette. I tend to be fairly pale and have even dyed my hair brown. The problem is encouraging a generation of girls to be spineless and emo. It's as if they believe that the only way to demonstrate gentility and kindness is to be pitiful. This mindset is a poisonous one.
I fully believe that douchebags keep on being douchebags because of girls who are "too nice" to set them straight. Well, it's gross. If some disgusting man is perving out on you, why would you just "laugh it off?" You don't have to take disrespect. You don't have to be a bitch to stand up for yourself, either. Too many people think that being nice means being a doormat. It doesn't make you cute to let people walk all over you and it doesn't make you a good person to let some creep say whatever he wants. Not to go all girl power here, but women need to learn to save themselves from time to time. Keep dreaming some prince charming will come knock that creep out. Maybe he will. But until then, you've got to learn to take care of yourself.
I said all that to say that literature is really in the crapper these days. haha. Where are the Elizabeth Bennetts and the Scarlett O'Haras? Sure, they had their flaws. But they were strong and lively and different from their meek or vapid counterparts. Maybe that's the problem. There are a lot of bitchy, macho women out there these days. Maybe the authors are just overcompensating in presenting an opposite option. Who knows. Either way, it makes me sad.
I really did set out to make this entry funny...unfortunately, today some nasty weirdo called someone I love with an indecent proposal at her job. She just hung up. It isn't her fault that she was shocked. But had it been me, I would've had some choice words for that asshole. I know. I've been letting my sailor tongue slip a lot in this piece. Can I just say that this whole pansy woman phenomenon is something I find completely infuriating? I really have turned over a new leaf in trying to show kindness to people I come in contact with. People around me have noted a difference. I've tried to be more giving, compassionate, and considerate. I finally feel like I'm getting somewhere in these efforts. However, that does NOT mean that I should sit back and allow injustices to fly all the time. And neither should you. I think one of my missions in life is to get people around me to have the balls to be honest and stern. Backbones, people. Backbones!
No comments:
Post a Comment