Addison’s Reviews > Not One Damsel in Distress: World Folktales for Strong Girls > Status Update

"...she ran faster till she came to a bridge made of just one hair. Molly took a deep breath and ran across it. She was so light, she skipped right over..." Okay, she's carrying the sword of a giant so I'm going to assume she weighs .5 pounds on her own, which I won't wank about (BEAUTIFUL AND LIGHT, LADIES). Whose hair is this? Who builds hair bridges? Is this a cultural thing I'm not getting?

See, "The Pirate Princess" is a pretty badass story and we need more like that. Less of the ones where women are distracted by shiny things.

See, "The Pirate Princess" is a pretty badass story and we need more like that. Less of the ones where women are distracted by shiny things.

Did this girl in the story just flash the sultan who would have surely killed her had he caught a woman serving with his knights sooner? Also, still describing every girl as SO BEAUTIFUL YOUR EYES WOULD MELT.

So, I have a honest question - why is every single girl in these stories described as "SMART but ALSO BEAUTIFUL, OKAY?" Is that necessary? Shouldn't we be teaching girls that it's okay if you're not SO PRETTY AND BEAUTIFUL AND THERE ARE A TON OF DUDES ALL UP IN THIS VILLAGE WANTIN TO MARRY THIS GIRL OH MAN. Oh and why does the huntress who worships Artemis get a happy ending via marriage? Is that necessary?