Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo, creators of the viral video Cinderfella and the book Goodnight Stories For Rebel Girls are everywhere. According to them Fairytales that have been passed on to girls till date, rarely have strong female characters. But in real life, there are plenty of women who have been influential and inspirational. Women in the real world have contributed to the positive change and that is something which cannot be overlooked. Young girls who are getting introduced to fairy tales should have a positive impact on their minds. They can learn plenty of stories about women who made a big change and came out as rebels in a positive way! Young girls should have access to the stories which can make them even more confident about their gender.
In the book, the authors have chosen to illustrate and write stories about real women from all over the world. This will create a sense of equality among young children, about gender and race. It will also create awareness about the limitless capabilities of women from every part of the world. The book is a crowdfunded work and has raised more than a million dollars and sold half a million copies till date! This is a tremendous success in itself. But what is more important is the concept of switching genders. A woman shouldn’t be put into categories. Boys and girls can choose whatever they are interested in, without bothering about their passions to fit in their gender roles.
I believe by introducing such a concept will allow a change in perspective about gender roles. An early start can create a new set of changes and outlook. It will allow girls to explore and set their own limits and boundaries which will be independent of what society has decided for a particular gender!