One can look at the pictures above in one of two ways:
1. Ella is already fallen victim to society's definition of femininity. She is sporting restrictive clothing, is encumbered with child and learning that beauty is her only currency. What would Hillary say?
or
2. She can be royalty, a parent, a fashion icon, built of grit and character with keen intellectual abilities. Ella is learning that the very meaning of being female can be as complex and diverse as she chooses.
Today's exercise in dress-up made me pause. What message am I sending our daughter when I shun something stereotypically feminine? Is wearing pink akin to joining a cult? Is playing dress up with Baby Wetsy all that terrible? The girl will likely be trying to decode enough of society's mixed messages. She doesn't need her mother closing one more door for her. So I am starting to come to grips with the notion that my daughter just might like an Easy Bake Oven for Christmas. I'm sure she won't mind that it comes with a high-powered telescope and karate lessons.
A big thank you to Aunt Mandy, Aliza and Alec for this afternoon life lesson via dress up trunk.
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