These two books came into the office the other day:
The Girls’ Book of Glamour: A Guide to Being a Goddess and
The Boys’ Book of Survival: How to Survive Anything, Anywhere. Ha-ha, we thought, how retro and ironic and . . .
OMG, THEY ARE TOTALLY SERIOUS.
The jacket flap copy on the girls’ book: “Be confidant. Be glamorous.
Be gorgeous . . . Be the goddess you were born to be!” On the boys’
book: “Be brave. Be prepared . . . Be a hero!”
Now, our son loves trucks, planes and dinosaurs. Our goddaughter loves
tutus. BUT. STILL. Our son has been known to dance around in a skirt,
and our goddaughter has been known to play with dinosaurs. The truck
books do not say, “TRUCKS FOR BOYS.” They say, “TRUCKS TRUCKS TRUCKS.
TRUCKS.”
We read both of these books to make sure they are as bad and reactionary as their covers suggested. In fact, they are worse.
Girls are instructed to “accessorize fabulously.” Boys are taught to
“survive an avalanche.” Girls are told how to “give yourself a
mini-facial.” Boys are given instructions for making a dugout canoe.
The major theme in the boy book: Be ready for anything! You’re a
leader! (“How to Be a Good Leader,” p. 12) The girls’ theme: Be pretty!
Also, friendly! (“How to Have the Best Manners,” p.81) And “jazz up”
that “boring ponytail.”
For realz? This is the publishing house that gave us Hermione Granger? For shame. —
Ada Calhoun
