Fairy tales linked to violent relationships

[Kire]

Fairy tales linked to violent relationships

Fri Apr 22, 7:47 AM ET

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.

More: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1540&ncid=1540&e=2&u=/afp/20050422/sc_afp/sciencebritainwomen_050422114707

[unblock]

1. this is hardly news

there's a sizable body of academic work on the negative effects of the "romance myth" (which would obviously include most fairy tales) on girls, particularly around the age of 12 give or take.

the ex-mrs. unblock even made some contributions to this research.

[Kire]

2. well, it's on the front page of Yahoo! today

for whatever it's worth, I posted it
:shrug:

[Freedom_from_Chains]

6. I think my ex, "the plaintiff”, was in that study.

:(

[gumby]

3. I laughed-out-loud when I read this topic.

Brutal fairy tales are what Rush Limbaugh preaches every day, day after day, year after year, from coast to coast.

This is Limbaugh's most effective propaganda technique. He combines classic fairy tales and the American myth with his fascistic politics. That's why his listeners interpret his bilge with "the truth." Fairy tales and myths carry enormous psychological power.

[tubbacheez]

4. Misleading headline. Romantic myths are the problem, not fairy tales.

And yes, there is some overlap where a fairy tale may contain a romantic myth. But it's the romantic myth that causes this problem, not the fact that the story was a fairy tale.




When I tell stories to children, I usually try to downplay the romance and add in a few martial arts scenes somewhere.

I learned that from watching "The Matrix".

[Kire]

7. cool!

I like that storytelling idea!

[Freedom_from_Chains]

5. It's the whole myth of romantic love thing. n/t