Anita Bensoussane wrote: ↑23 Jun 2023, 09:43
Narrow-mindedness still exists, of course. There are frequent stories in the news of people bullying or "cancelling" those whose views don't chime with their own.
Yes, exactly — it happens on both sides of politics. But I do find it sad that this particular writer just
has to take a cheap shot at Enid Blyton, implicitly because, you know, if she didn't add that (badly-worded) caveat about "the narrow-mindedness of its time", that might suggest that she herself (Kim Sherwood) actually
likes Enid Blyton books and isn't
aware that they're Not Politically Correct, and we couldn't have
that, could we?
And meanwhile, as for narrow-mindedness, whenever I hear or read someone in today's world criticising people of previous generations for how they thought and acted, I just think that in 50 or 80 or 100 years' time, people will be looking back at
our time and almost certainly criticising us in the same lofty way...
Anita Bensoussane wrote: ↑23 Jun 2023, 09:43The writer of the article (Kim Sherwood) is keen to stress that there are excellent adventure stories featuring prominent female characters, and that those stories don't necessarily get the recognition they deserve. However, maybe she also wants to make the point that male-dominated adventure stories shouldn't simply be cast aside, and that some of those are among her favourites too.
Could be. It just struck me as really strange that the writer is asking "What adventures can a woman lead? Where are our stories?" — and then half of the adventure stories she lists as her favourites are ones that are
not led by women and don't tell women's "stories" at all!!