Cinderella - a Slutastic Conversation; part 1

A small group of campus professionals just met to discuss the first 6 chapters of the Peggy Orenstein book, Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture. The group of all women came from a variety of backgrounds; some mothers, some not but thinking some day maybe, others older than the first generation of Disney marketing targets, a mix of ethnic backgrounds (mostly white - seriously, it's Lehigh) all of them highly educated and passionate about feminism.

But before I get into a recap of the discussion, I want to share a few resources with the readers of this post who may also be reading Orenstein's book in preparation for her visit to campus on September 26th. 

Other book reviews:

• Annie Murphy Paul (NY Times Book Review , January 21, 2011 "Is Pink Necessary"
• Jessica Bennet (Daily Beast Book Review, January 26, 2011 "Disney Princesses and the Battle for Your Daughter's Soul." 

Other articles by Orenstein: 

"What's Wrong with Cinderella?" NY Times Magazine, December 24, 2006 - [This may have started the book.] 

"Should the World of Toys be Gender Free?" NY Times Magazine, December 29, 2011.

Or links to her blog which posts her written work, much like a composer's opus is divided into work periods. Here are the titles listed written in 2011 to the present - but not linked for you. I'm going to actually MAKE you click to her blog and surf. Why? This writer is not a one topic trick pony. She also has some very important things to say about breast cancer research and a whole new appropriation of the color pink. More on that after our group discussion finishes next week.

In the last month or so Peggy Orenstein has super charged the conversation about Breast Cancer Research. Those who may be interested in reading the significant NY Times piece April 25, 2013 "Our Feel Good War on Breast Cancer" can read it through this link. With all of the philanthropic work many of our campus sororities do toward raising money for breast cancer research, and the fact that a significant number of our staff have been touched by the disease in multiple ways - the conversation on pink becomes relevant in a whole new perspective. I urge anyone who has interest in Feminism, or public heath to read all of Orenstein's work. If you're on twitter, you don't need to wait for her arrival on campus to engage in conversation. She's pretty accessible already --> @peggyorenstein

Back to a recap of today.

Since we were only discussing the first 6 chapters, we focused on the topics: Disney marketing, princess culture, pink, girlie-behavior, dressing, and "what is normal?" The discussion was led by Brooke DiSipio, Assistant Director of the Lehigh Unviersity Women's Center. We focussed some conversation about what we thought the topics of this book might be reflected on Lehigh's campus. It was a wonderful opportunity for us to consider not only our own "girl" experiences, and (for some of us) our parenting questions about raising girls, but in how the Princess Culture might have impact on current students.

DiSipio shared with us that she's noticing a lot of communication issues with students now. In general, we are seeing more students communicating via text message (and long ones at that) rather than having face to face conversations. DiSipio's area of expertise is in sexuality. She guides female and male students through a tricky time in every person's life. If you are of any generation, think back to your own personal age of sexual awareness; which develops in stages. In a mostly repressed sexual society, how does a person come to terms with being sexual, being in a healthy sexual relationship, and (for lack of better way to say it) being appropriate?

How do we become and behave in our sexuality. In today's young "hook up" culture, how do couples develop relationships beyond sex? It was wonderful to consider how might the issues brought up in Oresntein's book be reflected in what our current students are dealing with? How does the objectification of women (a multi-centuries old issue) impact the independent growth and identity development of our students? How does contemporary culture impact the next generation of leaders? These are issues the staff of the Women's Center face every day. 

Not to put too hard a right turn on the subject - but this conversation made me extremely proud of working in a residential higher educational institution. It's staff and programs like the Women's Center that offer Lehigh students a chance to learn and grown beyond the classroom. The discussions, speakers, and conversations in a room filled with comfortable furniture led by highly skilled counselors and thoughtful academics, add value beyond measure to learning on this campus.

**** personal reflection******

Reading Orenstein's book and articles has me questioning so many things about my own childhood, and how I'm trying to be aware of the "different but informed" environment my husband and I are trying to raised our own children in. We are the parents of 10 year old boy/girl twins. I was thrown head first into gender issues the day they were born. Now, as a Girl Scout Leader, I'm seeing lots of programming coming through that organization to support young women's confidence beyond the Disney Culture these kids grew up with. Most of the girls in our troop have one or more Disney princess gowns in their closet. There's been a Halloween where they've fought over who gets to be Ariel, Aurora, Jasmine or Belle. They also played with Bratz dolls. Their idols are Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and (God help me) Kei$ha. They sing their lyrics not really knowing what they're singing about. They all want to have a birthday party at Sweet and Sassy and ride in this:

When my daughter came home looking like a cast member of MTV's "Jersey Shore," my husband had to hold me back from hosing down the layers of makeup and hairspray. Seriously.

... I can't wait to hear the conversations with my kids ten years from now. I wonder what experiences they are having now that will inform their cultural observations and reflections of what they thought was important in hind sight. I'm sure they will remember my over-reactions to purchase requests.

One last random thought. Anyone remember this toy form the 1970s? (Growing Up Skipper Doll, released in 1975) This may offer some insight into my own identity developmental confusion...

What is the "Creative Campus"?

The article, "The Creative Campus: Who's No. 1?" written by Steven Tepper, originally appeared in the October 1, 2004 issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education.
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/curbcenter/creativecampus
The article was highly effective in motivating many campus leaders to nurture a more creative enviroment in higher education. But the theory is only one effective motivation - how theory is turned into practice is the greater challenge. And the practice is not formulaic. In fact, the experiments in arts engagement at some campuses have challenged academic structures, traditions and authority of viable artistic or creative enterprises. In all cases, the experiments are all about engaging students in creative and artistic experiences. It's not JUST about graduating the next art major, or selling tickets to the guest artist series at the campus performing arts center. It IS that - and so much more.

This blog is not to suggest that every student become an art major. But all students should be engaged in the arts. I'll put it plainly. Every time I step on the treadmill, I don't think I'll be running the next NYC marathon. But I certainly do admire and support those who do. And I appreciate the training, discipline and achievement. Maybe if everyone tried to sing in public - they'd REALLY understand the same for professional singers? What if campuses did the same for arts engagement as offered for physical activity? Both are vital to personal development - both are up to the individual student to discover.

This blog will discuss some of the Best Practices of the Creative Campus movement. Examples from a variety of campuses will be higlighted. There will also be posts dedicated to the impact of arts engagement for students post-graduation, civic engagement with the arts, and artists vs. professional amateur artist.

Bottom line: if during the college years a person discovers their passions and begins a life-long journey to change the world - wouldn't it be neat if the arts were a part of it? No matter the declared major - the arts are a part of everyone's life. Storytelling, design, sound, senses.... we are all touched by someone else's creative ideas. And every idea has a root in the arts. Just think of the chair you're sitting on right now. Yup, the arts were a part of that design. Listen to Steve Jobs' Standford 2005 commencement speech - YouTube it - oh heck, I'll save you the trouble:
http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505.html
it's the "Connecting the dots" story...

We need to understand that a person must develop their OWN relationship to the arts, and discover how varied experiences can add to the reservoire of their own creative path. College students eventually become the next generation of work force, parents, voters, board members, patrons.... need I continue?

If creativity is built on a collection of experiences, and only understood in hindsight, it will be a sad realization that people's creative resources have be depleted because they were starved for experiences when they are in fact, so easily avaible in college.