Is it still really Sugar and Spice versus Puppy Dog Tails?

I am sometimes told (usually by men) that the feminist politics in PLANE CRAZY are dated, which puzzles me.

Even disregarding the terrible sexism and extreme abuses women face in other parts of the world and looking only at the "modern" North American woman's lot, I continue to see numerous cases of sexism in the workplace and double standards in society. Yeah, we have come a long way, but we're not there yet!

Here's a case in point -- two etiquette course descriptions from a famous "rock-like" family sports and social club:

Basic Social Smarts, Boys Ages 8-12
Not a lesson from Fear Factor. How to's include: a firm handshake, eye contact, grooming 101, peer/adult encounters and conversation, good sportsmanship, behaving in public, at family gatherings and on special occasions, presenting your best side, wireless manners and how not to gross people out at the dining table.

Tween Chic, Girls Ages 8-12
Acquire some social polish with this program, which covers skin care and grooming, model posture and poise techniques, social introductions and invitations, mingling and conversation skills, thank you notes and elegant table manners.

Yikes! The only thing missing in Tween Chic is "How to vacuum wearing heels and pearls"! And if you've ever seen lunch hour at an all-girls school, you'd be signing them up pronto for that "how not to gross people out at the dining table" lesson!

So endeth today's rant.

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