Disney has introduced a new fairy on its website, Pixie Hollow - a dude named Slate. He is a variation on Tinker Bell from "Peter Pan," J.M Barrie's famous play and subsequent novel, "Peter Pan and Wendy."
The androgynous new character is not called a "fairy boy," however. "Sparrow Man" is the preferred term, and now both genders are represented on the website which allows children to choose a flying avatar. Just as Barbie had to have Ken for that touch of um, reality, the girl fairies needed some masculine energy in the Hollow. With big wings.
Now boys can openly log onto Pixie Hollow without embarrassment, and children may choose which gender they want representing them. It also increases the wardrobe possibilities - Slate has some very cool hats. I'd like to believe that making toys and games non-gender specific will lead to true equality in the home and the workplace where people are free to pursue their interests without fear, and accepted as more than their reproductive roles. A concept which is long and painfully overdue.
15 comments:
I agree that the gender equality issue is long overdue for resolution but Disney? Disney bringing that about has as much chance of happening as they do of not being a another corporate entity more concerned with bottom line than social reality.
slate is a pretty bad ass name for a fairy
Mark,
Baby steps, Mark. Baby steps.
Van,
LOL. It surely is. Almost as good as "Spike" or "Duke."
You know, I like it.
Agent,
In a weird way, I do too. Besides, if there aren't any boy fairies, how are the girl fairies going to have fairy babies? It's only practical.
Well, perhaps Disney wants to try to join the 21st century. They have introduced the first black princess, you know.
Or it will sell more Disney products.
I always though fairies, et al, had no gender.
I like the idea, but I don't think it's really going to go over all that well with boys. They're more interested in the pirate Jack Sparrow than in the fairy "Sparrow Man".
Equality?
Howzabout......
"Pitch Black and the seven regular guys" (instead of Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs)
I like him very much.
As far as gender ruling for children; the pink and blue aisles in the toy department send me straight up onto my soapbox on a regular basis.
In an effort to restrain that angry fist, I will skip it here; especially since we are mostly of the same opinion at your place.
Scarlett & Viaggiatore
Whitney,
Maybe Tiana and Slate will be friends.
Jo,
Well, we know it's all about selling more vastly overpriced Disney stuff. When I was a child, I wondered about fairies as they all seemed to be girls. I thought maybe boy fairies were called something else.
I suspect they're trying to cash in on Jack Sparrow by calling their new character a sparrow man.
Calvin,
But what about us dwarfs?
I once saw graffiti that said "I like grils." Someone else had crossed out grils and written, "GIRLS, stupid." Then a third person came along and wrote, "What about us grils?"
Scarlett,
Brooks Brothers, that bastion of conservative dress, has been making men's pink oxford shirts for years.
When I was a kid, boys got all the cool toys while girls were stuck with dolls and child-size cleaning and kitchen equipment. Things are getting better, although not nearly fast enough.
Mmmm. Big wings. Does that imply what I think it implies? Maybe I'm getting confused between big wings and big wands.
Warts,
:)
I dunno...Slate looks like a very handsome butch dyke to me....
So true, So true I almost went apoplectic at the Disney store last summer looking for tshirts for my nephew when I heard the cashier tell a customer a toy they were looking for was in the "girl section". The kid with with the customer was a boy....
Oh I've missed you :o)
Tara,
I think so too. Or maybe a transvestite with that tiny waist. Hmmm, trannies for tots. It could work.
Sweet Pea,
I've missed you too. I'm soooo glad you're back, and your new blog looks great. I hope it will still feature shark's teeth, though.
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