I shudder to think what may have been in the books and lyrics that I was exposed to while I was growing up…which probably explains why I didn’t become a feminist until I attended a women’s college. And I love that line, “A man is not a financial plan,” which is kind of funny in my case because my husband is a financial planner. There’s also the other side of it- what Rolf is singing back to Leisl! I had the picture of the gazebo in mind. A bell's not a bell without ringing Torture, Punishment, and Discipline: Reading Foucault, http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jun/06/breadwinner-moms-equality, Follow The Bookshelf of Emily J. on WordPress.com, My Top Ten Classic Novels for Teenage Girls, Ethnocentrism in The Indian in the Cupboard, My Top Ten Classic Novels for Teenage Boys, Girls’ Studies: 1980s Barbie Glamour Home, Colson Whitehead's The Underground Railroad: A Metaphor, Girls’ Studies: I Am Sixteen Going on Seventeen, Follow The Bookshelf of Emily J. on Facebook. I hope that attitudes are changing! But I never thought too much about the message in the song “Sixteen Going on Seventeen”. Could it be “better” from a feminist perspective? I grew up with my parents telling me I always had to work hard, do my best, and earn whatever I wanted, so I thought it would be weird to get married and suddenly not have to earn anything for myself. We are a partnership. But it can and it must! Here’s a quote (my emphasis): “Heterosexual couples who both work are happier, right up until the point where the female partner starts to out-earn her husband; then, marital satisfaction dips and divorce rates increase. Spouses ought to unlearn a lot of cultural crap which is not so easy at times. Its ideas are foreign to us now. Even though many of the words used are the same, the meaning is completely different when spoken by the 17-year-old Hitler Youth and the 30?-year-old ex-nun. Maria’s version is meant to demonstrate to Liesl that “take care of” and “depend on” don’t have to do only with finances and physical prowess; both parents provide care to the needs of the other, and to the children. Little girls, and boys, believe these themes to be true and they get that message from simply innocent social cues like music and movies. (And that’s only if they were “lucky” enough to have an estate to run.) I am impressed to hear that you noticed this stuff as a teen. Did any of you? The song is used by WGR 550 in Buffalo leading into discussions about the Bills playoff drought. Also, I love your point about a man wanting a partner who will also be part of financial decisions and support and ultimately be a partner. I used the redux version for this assignment! Shudder. Yes it does! ( Log Out /  Interesting. I was just thinking that too, Emily. All of the men in this movie who try to show off their power wind up being taken down a few notches, and it is ultimately nuns – women with no use for men – who save the day. Girls’ Studies: I Am Sixteen Going on Seventeen. It is a product of its time and perhaps there is some irony there. The lyrics are meant to be flirtatiously coy – she’s playfully _pretending_ to be meek and submissive, while ironically being the more dominant member in their courtship. In terms of earnings, however, I think a lot of men today still feel that they must be the main breadwinner in a household. You might look at it a different way. That said, I do love The Sound of Music, and can’t imagine why they thought remaking it was a good idea. I love your line, “A man is not a financial plan.” And, were I a man, I don’t think I would want a wife who didn’t plan to become a partner in supporting the family financially or at least getting the training to do so in the event that I, the breadwinner became unable to do that, even though I was “sixteen going on seventeen” when this movie came out. 1960s? The "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" scene is featured on The Orville episode "If the Stars Should Appear" when Klyden asks to see something to make him happy in addition to eating rocky road ice cream as "depression food" following an argument with Bortus. Grace, that is fascinating and now that you mention it, I’ve seen those same articles and studies. I always think of the idea that we mistake culture for nature, and it makes it hard to change if we think it can’t be. As my one of my favorite sayings goes, “A man is not a financial plan.”. I always love hearing solutions. I loved the songs and I had a wonderful singing teacher who played lots of songs from musicals on the piano, including The Sound of Music. The mother in that book suggested that the first love of your life will make your hands tremble but perhaps not make the best husband. The song suggests that a girl’s life will begin when a man comes along and makes her his wife. "[4], In the motion picture version, the song was filmed in and around a gazebo which is still visited by hundreds of tourists each day doing "Sound of Music" tours around Salzburg though the gazebo interiors were filmed in Hollywood. But the song certainly has a very antiquated attitude to the role of women, relationships and marriage. Thank you for sharing this stuff! She was meant to be portrayed as much more mature than he, in both the original 1959 Broadway Play, and in the movie. Liesel turns out to be the stronger more moral character while Rolf is the easily lead Nazi sympathiser. Rolf is a clueless fish on a hook, bespelled by a Liesl who knows exactly what she’s doing. This is absolutely true. Great points, Kay. Liesel is only one year younger than Raalf, but she is looking for someone older and wiser. Even worse, to my mind, is the redux version between Maria and Liesel in the second half of the movie. Yes! In the end of the movie, the new husband and wife work *together* side-by-side to risk their lives to save their children, with both parents equally important. It suggests that young women should give up their ambitions and dreams as soon as they belong to somebody. It is so hard to recognize the subtle messages when we are so entrenched in it. But still not my plan. Yes, yes, I know. When women are property, they cannot own property or inherit or be considered capable of running an estate. Much of what she is saying is meant as a tongue in cheek objection to stereotypical marriage roles. You sound like you have a very solid marriage. It is a part of the play in The Pacifier (starring Vin Diesel). It is fun! . I am a little later in my feminist development! That’s a lot of pressure for a husband! Perhaps because we accept it’s simplicity and innocence is where the very danger lies. Audiences recognize that both are really still babies. It is an excellent write up Emily. Thankfully, as Emily pointed out, a lot of that is changing. Thanks for the dialogue on this, BTG. On the second night they share a bed, Jamie kisses Ste for the first time, and the song is heard playing at the end of the scene. Just for the record, the song was written as a lyrical irony. I think that the audience is supposed to feel the irony of a seventeen-year-old boy and a sixteen-year-old girl thinking he is more knowledgeable and worldy wise and has to guide her. Kind of an odd thing to say. The director of both the play (and the movie) would each agree with your objections to stereotypes, but I suspect they would both be disappointed that you did not pick up on the fact that the song was trying to poke fun at those stereotypes. Sorry, that’s me not reading carefully enough! It seemed very unfair to men. A movie in 2004, 13 Going on 30, is named after this, and also includes a parody.

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