posted April 22, 2005 11:33 AM         

quote:

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LONDON (AFP) - Young girls who enjoy classic romantic fairy tales like "Cinderella" and "Beauty and the Beast" are at greater risk of becoming victims of violent relationships in later life, a British researcher says.

A study of both parents of primary school children and women who have been involved in domestic abuse claims than those who grew up reading fairy tales are likely to be more submissive as adults.

Susan Darker-Smith, a graduate student who wrote the academic paper, said she found many abuse victims identified with characters in famous children's literature and claimed the stories provide "templates" of dominated women.

A more senior academic at the University of Derby said the topic was sure to spark debate but merited further research.

"They believe if their love is strong enough they can change their partner's behaviour," Darker-Smith said. "Girls who have listened to such stories as children tend to become more submissive in their future relationships."

The research, conducted in Leicester in the east of England, is to be presented to the International Congress of Cognitive Therapy in Gothenburg, Sweden, next month.
Her study, entitled "The Tales We Tell Our Children: Overconditioning of Girls to Expect Partners to Change", will be discussed by many of the world's most influential therapists.

Darker-Smith said she believed younger generations exposed to television and other entertainment media may react differently and be less submissive than those weaned solely on literature.

Her work found the most popular bedtime stories for girls were "Cinderella" and "Rapunzel", while boys were more likely to hanker for "Paddington Bear" or "Thomas the Tank Engine".

Darker-Smith, a masters student in cognitive behavioural psychotherapy at the University of Derby, will also submit other abstracts to the conference, examining ideas about anorexia and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Michael Townend, senior lecturer in psychotherapy at the university said: "We know that storytelling is an important way that children form beliefs about themselves and relationships."

"Susan's work is an interesting study which is sure to spark debate, but further research is required in this area."

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posted April 22, 2005 12:42 PM         

"Cheerio eating will lead to extreme paranoia around hula hoops", new study finds.....

I wonder if the money spent on researching such inane things would be better spent funding healthcare or something?
Just an inkling....

posted April 22, 2005 01:25 PM         

I didn’t think you would take it the wrong way - but I had a bad feeling telling me “what if”. this happens all the time. I’m surprised I have any friends lol.

Yeah you’re right, about the farther part - I accepted that a long time ago, although it wasn’t easy.

posted April 22, 2005 08:54 PM         

Prince Charming, happily ever after???? How many of us ever wanted, even for a minute, to grow up to be beautiful princesses?

If anything, it may set girls up to expect impossible things from relationships. Look at movies/stories for grown up girls. Same thing! (Jerry MacGuire?! First one to come to mind.)

I'm not saying I agree or disagree. Linking it to violent relationships could just be a correlation between girls raised on these tales, and women who end up in violent relationships. And as we know, correlation does not imply causation. But, if women grow up expecting these things, even subconsciously, I can see how that line of thinking could contribute to the fact that too many women stick around in violent relationships.

So what I'm saying is that I don't believe that fairy tales directly equal involvement in violent relationships. But if the former leads to erroneous thinking and the circumstances are bad, it could be part of the reason why so many women stay.

posted April 22, 2005 10:55 PM         

They have no clue what they are saying! The correct translation of this is...
A ring-a-ring-a rosie,
pocket full of posies,
achoo, achoo, we all fall down.

This was created during the time of the black plague.

A ring of rosies- the first stage, the rotting of flesh.

Pocket full of posies- flowers and herbs were carried by the person to try and cover up the stench of rotting flesh.

Achoo, achoo,- last stage before death was sneezing.

We all fall down- death.

I made a comparason between the plague and aids.

posted April 23, 2005 12:11 PM         

If girls imbued with a sentimental optimism (whether by nature or exposure to fairy tales) are more likely to overlook their lover's faults in later life, they are equally more likely to be the agents of positive change in their mates. Thats why its called faith. If faith were not blind, it would be reason. But, the fact that faith is blind does not negate its potential for effecting the highest good.

On the contrary, where more "reasonable" people will consider their own interests first, looking always for someone of equal or higher affections, they will give love more selfishly, and only to those who need it least.

We ought not to extinguish the idealism our storybooks inspire, but, rather, the cold-hearted self-interest of what passes for "realism" in this world. If, instead, we would allow our boys to cry, we would not consider teaching our girls to harden their hearts.