Why We Need More Cinderellas in a World of Mulans

The more I read fiction, the more I come across one type of female lead: the strong, independent girl who is a boss and doesn’t need a prince to save her. This is a common archetype in today’s fiction. But while we need stories of strong women who are just as capable of leading and conquering as men, my concern is that we are drifting away and forgetting that soft femininity is just as valuable. There are countless girls out there who need the reminder that not all women are the take-charge and outgoing type, and that is alright; in fact, it is admirable.

The Rise of Strong, Female Leads

With the rise of feminism, strong, female leads have taken over the scene in books, movies and art. Why is this? Let’s go back to the feminist movement. This movement was birthed from real-life issues that were stifling the voice of women simply because of their gender. Chief among these issues were the exclusion from higher education and professional life, the denial of the vote, inability to own property, and lack of legal personhood within marriage.

Women had been treated as second-class citizens for centuries. At one point, women began to fight for the abolition of slavery, but ironically they themselves had hardly any more rights than the slaves they were speaking up for. Something was fundamentally wrong. Brave women stood up to right these wrongs and raise their voices in an attempt to remind the world that they were valuable and capable.

This has been an ongoing battle, and in some aspects it has been valuable and integral to our development as a society. Women now have a choice to get an education, own a business, and vote. Yes, there are still cultures and places where women aren’t valued as they should be, but progress has been made and many are still battling the fight.

(Note: I realize this is a very brief summary of the feminist movement, and I do not intend to write an in-depth study on the subject. I am presenting this view as the basis for what I believe has impacted fiction and literature today.)

The Fall of Traditional Dreams

While feminism gained a voice and place for many talented women, it slowly began to stifle the voice of those aspiring to a quiet life. Homemaking slowly became a stereotypical dream and a constraint. Having families turned into an impediment to happiness and freedom. The fight for women owning businesses and running for president was won, but the homemakers and mothers began to be viewed as having a lower, less fulfilling vocation in the eyes of society.

I’d like to suggest this showcases itself in today’s literature and entertainment. The Anne Shirleys, Lucy Pevensies, and Mary Lennoxes have dwindled. In their place, we have fairytale retellings cutting out the prince, not because it betters the plot, but because modern society seems to dictate this is the way to showcase strength in women.

How did a movement born to elevate womanhood end up diminishing it and discriminating against quiet beauty?

I believe that in the pursuit of life, happiness and freedom, we have gone too far and trampled upon the sacred ground of soft femininity.

The Beauty of Soft Femininity

There is beauty in the quiet resilience of a woman who aspires to baking bread and spending days at home raising children. There is strength in a woman who speaks only with the aspiration of being heard by friends and family and not necessarily on a platform. There is power in the lives of women who long for a slow life. And women like these should be valued and celebrated just as much as women who can lead a multi-million dollar company in a male dominated industry.

Without women who aspired to being mothers, society would be extinct. Without women who tend gardens in isolated patches of land, the fields of the world would have no seeds to plant. Soft femininity carries as much weight in this world as loud feminism.

Which brings me back to my original point: where are these women being represented in our literature and entertainment? Are we leaving room for quiet heroines who can lead, conquer and rule a kingdom while still being happiest wearing the frilly dresses and raising a family?

Let’s face it. We all admire Jo March. But the story wouldn’t be the same without Marmee and Beth. We need both types of heroines to make our stories complete.

There are many girls in this world who have soft, quiet dreams. But simply because they aren’t as loud doesn’t mean they are any less important.

The Need for Honest Representation of Both

The truth of the matter is that we need soft heroines and we need strong female leads. We need both. But if we overemphasize one over the other we do a disservice to many. Let girls find role models for their big, loud dreams. But let them also find role models for their quiet aspirations.

We love Mulan. She is fierce and independent and the brave heroine we all wish we could be. But let’s not forget many of us aspired to be Cinderella, finding love and becoming a princess. Let us not forget either of them. Rather, let us create new characters, both loud and soft, who can become another girl’s role model. Quiet beauty deserves as much praise as loud confidence.

It’s time to celebrate soft femininity once more! In the words of Meg March in the 2019 Little Women adaptation, “Just because my dreams are different than yours doesn’t mean they’re unimportant.”

Thanks for reading,
Anna

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Photo by Anita Austvika on Unsplash