We have fables like Beauty and the Beast teaching us that we oughta give the somewhat less-than-hot men a second chance and look beyond the external to see their true beauty within.

That’s nice. The drag is it only goes one way.

The Beast sure is beastly – but he wants a beauty. And whereas his character is treated sympathetically, and we are taught to give them a chance, females in our fables do not get the same treatment.

Remember Cinderella’s sisters? My gosh, even their feet aren’t pretty enough.

Can anyone name one story, fairy tale, or myth where the lead woman isn’t a beautiful princess? And where the less than beautiful aren’t vilified?

Now we have the horrid reality TV series, Average Joe, where once again, Princesses are told that they should kiss the frog.

Where is the opposite story? Where are Princes told to take a closer look at the homely but hard working washer woman, or to go beyond the sour expression of the little match girl to see what lies within?

We need more of these stories like that out there – where women are valued for more than looks. The Paper Bag Princess is a lonely warrior.

And don’t get me started on the lack of merits in Princesses. That’s for another post.