I watched some of my favorite old movies this last week. I watched the Princess Bride, the Last Unicorn and The Seven Samurai. Both the Last Unicorn and The Princess Bride are adapted from books and of course the Seven Samurai is a film by Akira Kurosawa.
I watched Wesley get attack by this giant rat in the fire swamp and Buttercup does nothing but stare in fear while her boyfriend gets bitten. Then the rat goes after her and she finally gets the sense to grab a piece of wood while assuming the beaten and hurt Wesley saves her.
Sounds familiar? Of course it does. She's a princess. Now if she had grabbed Wesley's sword and killed the rat the fight scene will be over in half the time.
Yes, I know, lots of movies like Shrek show unconventional princesses. Who didn't like it wen Fiona did the matrix-trinity kick? We need more stories where princesses don't wait for princes to rescue them.
Don't get me wrong, I love the book and the movie. Though I can imagine the complications that will arise when I explain to my future daughter that she can grab a sword or to my future son that if she does it doen't demean is manliness in any way.
Even in the Last Unicorn, the two female characters Molly and the Unicorn/Amalthea embody two common stereotypes: the weary and old motherly type and the damsel in distress who looks like the wind can blow her off her feet. And even though my heart sighs when I hear the lines "That's what heroes are for" which Schmendrick says to Prince Lir so he'll save Amalthea, it all boils down to the prince saving the princess.
Which brings me to my point, hopefully. I live in a country where the old traditions are still embedded deep within everyone. No matter how much we think we're modern, we aren't. I'm not saying that these core values are bad. I just harbor a grudge at some of them. Especially the ones pertaining to boy-girl stereotypes.
Seriously, the girls who have the most admirers are the girls that are sweet, shy and delicate. That's the key word: delicate. It's not the time they spend in front of the mirror. It's how easy they seem so breakable that holds the charm. This is true for most Filipinos. I don't blame you. Even my parents believe that.
A girl/woman should be prepared to be the queen of the household, knows how to cook, clean and be a servant. Ok I'm getting off track.
I tried it once. I joined this group for the summer and nobody there knew me, the loud, weird girl who loves sports, reading and is sometimes too bossy me. I was sick that weekend so I was quiet and stuff like that and guys really like that. They flock to girls like that. Yup the word is flock. I had more admirers that summer than I had my whole life.
Unless my face and body underwent a super dramatic change over that summer or I had somehow switched places with a sexy beauty I guess the change in attitude is the only factor.
It didn't happen just once. There was this weekend retreat where I was sick(again) and it happened (again).
Or when I started college and nobody in my class knew me except for a handful of friends and I never talked to anybody else that much. Which they may have perceived as shyness. Of course when all of my classmates, who are now my friends figured out I was "one of the boys" they all changed their attituds towards me.
I like it that I have friends instead of admirers. I think if anyone gets turned off by my attitude will never learn to love me.
I'm not saying girls are innocent of looking for stereotypes. Who wouldn't want someone who can do everything for you and protect you all the time? (well except me)
One thing more ... what is it with the long courtships?
I don't believe it. If it takes me that long to decide if I like someone or not, I better not like him.
I also don't like the torture of not knowing if he likes you or if you do know he likes you, why torture him?
Ok enough. I need to write.
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I guess that there is something about strong women that intimidate men. But there are times that some women tend to flaunt their strength so much that it becomes a turn off. There are men who like strong women. Maybe it's just that some guys are too immature to perceive that there is something beyond a woman's outward appearance or facade or image.
Nothing wrong with being a strong woman. It's actually good because there are so many challenges that happen to couples and both man and woman have to be strong. It's just that some people in our society tend to favor the seemingly delicate woman. However, you and I know that some women just use their image of being fragile in order to catch the men.
What sad, sad, sad games people play.
But I still believe in courtship. Not the type that people go out on a date all by themselves and try to impress each other. I believe in courtship when two people are seriously considering marriage, whether or not they are suitable for each other^_^
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