I asked high school students (random sampling) how they liked Valentine' s Day. About half said, "it's cool, a chance to tell someone you love them." Another almost half said they hated it. "It hurts when you're alone." "Your girlfriend gets mad if you don't get her a bunch of stuff." There appears to be some pressure or else excitement about purchasing stuff. Good for the economy, good for love?
An older woman shared, "I just broke up with myboyfriend of many years. This happy happy talk is painful."
As I 've been reading about women's rights and feminism this week, a thought stands out. Valentine's establishes women as the princesses who must receive the flowers, candy, jewels from men -- or ... Like the wedding ceremony in which the father "gives away" the bride in marriage, the princess image is disappearing along with other historically patriarchal customs.
Or is it? Disney rakes in cash with ices shows attended by happy young girls in their princess costumes. At a recent Opera Piccola performance, when I asked for volunteers from the audience to help with our show, a little girl said excitedly, "Yes, I'll be the Princess."! Our Mayan folk tale only has costumes for frogs, trees, clouds and wind.
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