Some could say that Cinderella has a lot to answer for. Presumably her life was pretty sweet after her handsome (and wealthy) Prince finally tracked her down via a very dubious method of confirmation (I mean, come on, you mean to tell me that there weren’t at least 100 other girls in that village with a size 8 and a half?) and married her, living happily ever after. I digress.
Is it any wonder after being fed this and other Disney fairy tales as young girls, that some women now not only hunger to find their real life Prince, they also set their sights upon one that will be wealthy enough to support them so that they can then go ahead and indulge their own creative ambitions?
Author Elizabeth Gilbert, best known for the ridiculously successful book ‘Eat Pray Love’ is especially disturbed by this phenomenon, taking to her Facebook recently to air her concerns publicly.
Dear Ones —
Help me to understand something.
In the past year, I have overheard no fewer than four women in my personal acquaintance suggest that their lives would be completely solved (and that their creative potential would be completely realised) if only they had married (or could marry) a rich man.
Gilbert goes on to share her dismay at what she perceives as ridiculous intentions by smart, successful and independent women.
These are women whom I have admired for years. They are different in age, in background, in passions, in upbringing — but they are each strong and smart and competent and completely healthy in mind and body. And each one of them still dreams of snagging a guy with money, who will (presumably) remove all their obstacles and solve all their problems.
The most startling example was a woman who is a powerful, famous writer. This woman is ardent and outspoken feminist. An example to all human sisterhood. A person I have looked up to forever. We did a reading together recently. A young, female audience member asked her, “What advice to you do you have for aspiring writers?” The famous author replied: “Marry a rich man.”
When I heard this, my soul let out an anguished howl. I simply could not contain myself. I cried out, “NOOOOOO!”
Apparently, according to the other famous writer, it is simply impossible for women to both write creatively AND pay their own bills. Say what now? Not surprisingly, Gilbert had a few words to say about this.