Can’t a Girl Like Some Sci Fi Without the Gender Guilt Trip?

Carrie Goldman, blogging about her daughter's love of Star Wars and her own response to bullying:

Katie loves Star Wars, and she was very excited about her new items.  For the first few months of school, she proudly filled her water bottle herself and helped me pack her lunch each morning.

But a week ago, as we were packing her lunch, Katie said, "My Star Wars water bottle is too small.  It doesn't hold enough water.  Can I take a different one?"  She searched through the cupboard until she found a pink water bottle and said, "I'll bring this."

I was perplexed.  "Katie, that water bottle is no bigger than your Star Wars one.  I think it is actually smaller."

"It's fine, I'll just take it," she insisted.  

I kept pushing the issue, because it didn't make sense to me.  Suddenly, Katie burst into tears.

She wailed, "The first grade boys are teasing me at lunch because I have a Star Wars water bottle.  They say it's only for boys.  Every day they make fun of me for drinking out of it.  I want them to stop, so I'll just bring a pink water bottle."

The short of it, Katie was being bullied for being a Star Wars fan.  Distressed by the pressure put on her daughter to conform, her mother blogged about it and several people involved with the Star Wars universe, to include acting talent, responded with letters, collectibles and photos.  Very cool outpouring of support for Katie.

Read the rest here:

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/portrait_of_an_adoption/2010/11/anti-bullying-starts-in-first-grade.html#ixzz17voBISox

EpBot saw Carrie's blog entry and helped to rally people to support Katie:

I just read this article about little Katie being bullied by her classmates for carrying a Star Wars water bottle to school. She's only in the first grade.

This, my friends, cannot stand.

Katie's mom has asked for fellow females who love Star Wars to leave a comment showing Katie she's not alone, that lots of girls love Star Wars, and, dang it, that it's not just "Ok" to be different – sometimes it's BETTER.

EpBot took the subject a step further and expanded upon the theme of females, science fiction and geekdom.  It is a good read and available at the following link:

http://www.epbot.com/2010/11/geek-girls-activate.html

 

Finally, CNN sums up the story and response to Carrie's plea regarding gender roles and bullying with "'The Force' is with you, Katie":

Katie Goldman's universe extends from her home to her first-grade classroom. She is a big sister to Annie Rose and Cleo, a piano player, a Spanish student, a wearer of glasses. She loathes the patch she has to wear for one lazy eye. She loves magic and princesses and "Star Wars," an obsession she picked up from her dad.

The 7-year-old carried a "Star Wars" water bottle to school in Evanston, Illinois, every day, at least until a few weeks ago, when Katie suddenly asked to take an old pink one instead. The request surprised Katie's mom, Carrie Goldman. It didn't make any sense. Why would her little sci-fi fan make such a quick turn?.

Read the rest here:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/12/09/katie.starwars.geek/index.html

 

 

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