As many of you know, the east coast (where I am) had a bit of a hurricane this past weekend. Part of my hurricane preparedness kit included a copy of the "Tangled" video game for Wii (as well as pudding and sparking wine. Gotta be prepared!). And yes, it is a kid's game but do I seem like the type of person who is above playing a children's video game?
My favorite part is when they hold hands! How precious.
Anyway, I noticed that there are clearly defined and stereotypical gender roles in the game, which you can play as either Rapunzel or Flynn. When you play as Rapunzel, you run around searching for things to draw, collecting sunbeams and making flowers grow with your glowing hair. As Flynn, you stomp around looking for treasure chests (with the help of your "Flynntuition!" ha!), climbing walls and smashing things with your sword. It even states in the game that Flynn's job is to "protect Rapunzel and clear her path". Rapunzel does have her trusty frying pan, but it doesn't fair as well against the bad guys and does nothing to clear the path of bushes and barrels that only Flynn's sword can break.
I for one, think it's funny that Rapunzel makes flowers grow while Flynn breaks everything in sight. Seems like a pretty accurate portrayal of many of the guys in my life. And granted it would be out of character for the roles to be switched. But it made me wonder, do I predicate these kind of stereotypes at my parties?
I often joke with the girls about trying to do a make over for the little boys at their party. We all laugh together and say things likes "make-up isn't for boys!"
Or is it?
Truth be told though, I was always a little sad when a boy didn't want a make over. I figured I'd have a better chance of getting one of the goofy dad's to opt for eyeshadow and lip glass than a 5 year old boy.
Until yesterday.
Saturday (during the "hurricane"!) I was finally able to brush my blush brush on the cheeks of a little boy! I didn't even have to ask him either; he just hopped right in the chair! I let him chose his eyeshadow color, like everyone else does, and when I told him the orange color he picked out wouldn't show up, he quickly changed it to a bright green (the very same shadow I use as Tinkerbell!) . He picked an orange bracelet to wear too. He kept calling it a necklace though, so I guess he wasn't THAT into it...
This kid wasn't effeminate either. He was just a cool go-with-the-flow kinda guy. His attitude was more of a "when in Rome" kind of deal than anything else. Like, "I'm at a girl's party? Well I guess I better get a make over."
And wear this skirt.
In addition to the make up and the pretty pink skirt over his cargo shorts, he and his friend, who was dressed as Darth Vader, also opted to make tiaras with the girls. The boy in the skirt did a purple one which is the least girly and passes for a prince crown. Darth Vader however, snagged my LAST pink tiara and covered it with jewels. And here I was worried about the girls fighting over the only pink tiara I had.
The birthday girl even joined in role breaking by stealing Mr. Vader's mask and another male party goer's fireman hat. So somewhere on Facebook is a picture of me as Rapunzel next to a little girl in a princess dress wearing a fireman's hat over a Vader helmet. Priceless.
It's parties like these that make me wish I could whip out my iPhone and get some shots myself! Princesses have iPhones, right?
I bet Snow White does
Oh well, until I can find a way to take pictures of these kids without seeming out of character (or just...creepy), I guess Princess Vader and her make up wearing boy friend with have to just live on in my memories.
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