I kind of knew I would love this video when I clicked on it and I was right. I just didn't know how much I would love it.
In the video, awesome little kid Riley paces around the doll aisle while trying to figure out why companies are trying to "trick girls into buying the pink stuff instead of stuff that boys want to buy".
What really wrecked me (in the best way) was Riley's completely reasonable and insightful observation that, "Some girls like superheroes, some girls like princesses! Some boys like superheroes, some boys like princesses! So why do all the girls have to buy pink stuff and all the boys have to buy different color stuff?" mainly because I remember being a little kid in the Hot Wheels aisle wondering why I never received those for Christmas, even though I secretly wanted them.
I was into action figures and superheroes at a young age but I remember that confused/nearly angry feeling I had upon realizing that no one had even considered that I might want anything other than pink toys or "girl toys" and I began to wonder if there was something wrong with me because I wanted something else.
But perhaps the moment that caused my heart to swell the most was Riley's father answering her with, "That's a good question Riley" in a tone that sounded both exasperated at the unfortunate truths she was speaking so clearly about, and proud as hell that his young daughter would likely grow up to be a force to be reckoned with.
DISCUSSION
It sounds she's parroting the sentiments of her father and it sounded staged.