I have loved Star Wars since I first saw the movie at age six. My four year old daughter also loves Star Wars, albeit a different version: Clone Wars. Each week we watch the cartoon network show. She can name all the jedi and has a lot of the toys (her favorite is Asohka Tano and she want to go to this year's conventions dressed as her-even though I want her to be at my booths dressed as Sky Girl).
Last night, I took her to McDonald's, in part, because they have a Star Wars happy meal. So, we go to the drive through and order through the barely audible speaker box.
The woman says through the static, "Is this for a girl or a boy?"
I say, "we want the Star Wars toys."
The woman says, "oh, it is for a boy."
My daughter indignantly pipes up, "I'm a girl, daddy, say I'm a girl."
The woman corrects, "oh, it's a girl toy?"
I say, "she's a girl, but she wants a Star Wars toy."
The woman, "Star Wars toys are only for boys."
The line begins to back up and I sigh. "Can I have a Star Wars toy for my daughter?"
There is static and then the woman says, "Star Wars is for boys."
I look on the screen and it says, in bright red lettering "Happy Meal--Girl Toy"
I pull around, pay my money and look in the bag. There is an "I-Carly" toy in it.
I ask the teenager to give me a Star Wars toy and as he hands me a spaceship, he looks up at his screen and says, "I'm sorry sir, it says here you ordered a happy meal for a girl."
My daughter again pipes up,with a pout, "but I am a girl"
But, before anyone can respond, I race away with my alliance gunship,leaving a confused teen with the I-Carly talking meatball.
On the way home my daughter announces, "Star Wars is for boys. I'm a girl."
I say, "but you love Star Wars."
She say, very intently, "But daddy, Star Wars is for boys and I am a girl. I am NOT going to watch Star Wars anymore." Her hand gestures emphatically
I take a deep breath. "But, Asohka is a girl" I say.
She nods slowly, knowing I'm up to something.
"And she likes Star Wars." I continue.
"I guess." She concedes.
"And Padme likes is a girl." I press.
"Yes." She agress, "but . . ."
"And she is a girl." I interrupt, not wanting to lose momentum.
"Un huh." She answers ponderously.
"So, how can Star Wars not be for girls." I announce.
"But, they said Star Wars is for boys." She counters.
I pause ponderously and let out a "hmmmn?" Giving her a false sense of security. Then I let her have it. "You know, Lizzie, I watch Clone Wars every week with you and I think Star Wars is for girls and boys. I've never seen those people watch it with us, so how do we even know they watch it."
There is a long pause as my daughter looks at the window. Finally, she announces, "I like my Star Wars toy! It's a girl toy."
I had run rings around her logically and I pass the witness.
So, if not for nine years of higher education, and fifteen years of litigation (the fact that I am ten times her age and had some built in credibility helped as well), I would no longer get to enjoy Star Wars with my daughter because of those sexists at my local McDonalds.
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