Disappointed.
As a mother of two daughters I was intrigued by this website and thought I'd check it out. Hopeful, but not holding my breathe, that I'd find a good message here. I was disappointed.
How is it that when developing A Mighty Girl, you didn't include any books about motherhood? I love the idea of encouraging our daughters to be mighty, and all the categories of mighty women are great. But you're lacking mothers. Shameful. Absolutely terrible. Motherhood is the mightiest of all roles a girl can grow up to take on. That is a message worth sharing with them.
I fear that as you neglect to glorify and admire the role of motherhood as you do teachers and doctors and politicians, you are in fact sending a message that motherhood is beneath these girls. That motherhood is not worthy of their time and efforts. That it is undeserving of their FULL TIME attention. So untrue.
As a stay at home mother I have dedicated myself to my daughters. A mighty task indeed. I strive to dedicate my full attention to raising them to be strong and courageous and kind human beings that are passionate and joyful about life. I chose this role over the other many options available to me because I feel this is the most worthy of my time, the most valuable, the most rewarding, the most meaningful, and the most challenging.
I find it shameful and sad that A Mighty Girl has failed so miserably in presenting the full range of possibilities that are at girls fingertips. I hope that one day full-time motherhood will be presented to girls on this website as just as noble as the other admirable roles depicted here. For in reality, it is the most demanding and rewarding role anyone on this planet can take on. Yes, very mighty indeed.
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Crystal Witt commented
As the other commenters have pointed out, there are hoards of media out there that are about motherhood. Our society takes the assumption that all females will become mothers, it's not difficult to find pro-motherhood content. Being a job mother is an important job, but it's not breaking any ground to tell girls this. There isn't a lack of women taking motherhood roles. There is a lack of female representation is other aspects of society. Demanding more media encouraging girls to become mothers is kind of ridiculous.
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Rachel commented
I'm currently a stay-at-home mom (and graduate student), but I concur with Alyssa - young girls can hardly get away from all of the books, toys, and movies that assume they will be mothers someday. Yes, being a full time mom is incredibly demanding work, both mentally and physically, and we shouldn't undermine the work that mothers do. But I wouldn't say that motherhood is the "mightiest of all roles a girl can grow up to take on." Yes, it might be what fulfills some women, but certainly not every woman will find motherhood rewarding or fulfilling.
Girls learn from a very young age that they are expected to get married (to men) and to have babies. They are not typically encouraged to step much further beyond these roles. Instead, girls should be encouraged to exercise choice and that they can pursue what will make them personally fulfilled.
I wouldn't visit and promote this website either if it had merchandise and information promoting the belief that females are primarily meant to nurture and serve others.
Keep up the good work Mighty Girl!
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Alyssa commented
I agree with Leah. There are many books suggested on here regarding mothers.
However, if I may add - a simple trip to the bookstore or library and you will be showered with books with stereotypical gender roles that will fulfill your quest to shine a light on your girls becoming mothers . A quick stroll through any girls' toy aisle and you'll be bombarded with the motherly roles girls are "intended" and encouraged to fill every day - everywhere they look. ... But, this isn't 1950 any more. Perhaps your daughter(s) will choose not even to have children of their own -- and that's OK too.
The beauty of this website is the compilation of books and entertainment that allows girls to push beyond those prescribed roles and become the courageous, intelligent, beautiful people they are or ever imagined they could be... It allows these girls, who are faced each day with these gender expectations they need to meet, understand that they CAN in fact be whomever they choose to be.
Truth be told, if there were a focus on motherhood books for young girls on here (just the idea is quite bizarre to me - motherhood book for girls?), I'd probably never visit. Thank you, Mighty Girl, for all you do.
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Leah Earl commented
How much time did you actually spend looking?
In approximately one minutes I came up with
http://www.amightygirl.com/harriet-you-ll-drive-me-wild
http://www.amightygirl.com/someday
http://www.amightygirl.com/motherbridge-of-love
http://www.amightygirl.com/my-mama-had-a-dancing-heart
http://www.amightygirl.com/blueberries-for-sal
http://www.amightygirl.com/if-kisses-were-colors
http://www.amightygirl.com/i-love-you-like-crazy-cakesall of which are about the relationship between mothers and their children. And there are a whole lot more, but I didn't fancy sitting here cutting and pasting all night.