Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice

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Who thought of this phrase and what inspired it? I always thought it was cute but did not realize its implications in this sexist society. What are little girls made of? Sugar, spice, and everything nice. 

The photo above is of Pippi Longstocking who I grew up watching. Pippi was absolutely amazing. Though she sat on money, she always looked like a rag but her heart was kind and loving. According to the definition, Pippi is a girl yet why was she an outcast? She was nice with the exception of criminals who continually tried to rob her and she ate sweets all the time; doesn't that count for sugar? 

Now let's dissect spice. What exactly did they mean by that? When people think of a spicy woman they think the sassy speak-her-mind type. Check mark for Pippi. So if she passes, why is she not the model we teach our girls to be? Why is the model we emphasize today based on a medieval type of princess who does what she's told, marries who she's forced to, and remains loyal to the men in her life foremost. Something isn't adding up. The influence of this phrase is no longer relevant. Or at least we are getting there. 

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