The Cinderella Story: Are you a Scullery maid or Royalty?
This is a question many young women and older women struggle with throughout their lives. The feeling of unworthiness is expressed in various forms ranging from distorted body image, resentment toward husbands and children, perfectionism and comparisons with different women. We are compared to the air brushed model down on the cover of Vogue to the next door neighbor. We fear that our husbands will divert their gaze and trade us in for the latest model out on the market.
What is a woman to do when society today encourages women to compete with men over comparable pay, psychological ability, and physical strength? An example of this predicament is when the 1978 Pregnancy Discrimination Act was enforced to protect pregnant women from being discriminated against potential employers. Unfortunately according to 2007 statistics (Center for American Progress), there was a 12.3% increase of complaints filed by pregnant women against their employers. This rate increased by another 11.1% in 2008. Implications of this rising number show that whenever women attempt to compete for the same recognition as men in the work place conflict resides. This creates a “Superwoman” Mentality in most women to do it all playing the “Pregnant and Barefoot Role” in addition to “Maintaining a High Level Management Position.” This leaves many women feeling much like Cinderella. The feelings of being exhausted, unappreciated, and unloved.
Women and Cinderella share the same common story of being born of royal blood and then later being treated like a scullery maid. Cinderella’s father was one of the noble men of the court. He married a second time after Cinderella’s mother died. Cinderella grew up with her step mother Tremaine and two step sisters Anastasia and Dressela. Upon her Father’s death, the two step sisters and step mother treated Cinderella unkindly and required her to work day and night without appreciation. As the story evolves, Cinderella is among the women eligible to attend the king’s ball to find the prince a suitable princess.
Despite the lies and ill treatment of her step family, Cinderella is pursued and swept off of her feet by the prince! How does this story relate to our current plight as women? It does as many of us are already daughter’s of the King (God) and we were told lies and stripped of our rights as royalty. Who are the Dressela, Anastasia, and Tremaine in your life? Is it the woman next door, the look of disgust you give yourself in the mirror, or your father’s inability to tell you how beautiful you looked dancing in your dress?
Whatever or whoever you may perceive it to be, they are lies meant to deter you from knowing and claiming the truth. The truth is you are royal daughters of the King. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9.
Amanda Pagan is a Licensed Christian Mental Health Therapist that enjoys assisting families and couples in leading more thriving lives with each other dealing with issues ranging from infidelity/ trust, child rearing, money, and physical intimacy. She is a Nationally Board Certified Therapist in the areas of Christian Counseling and Marriage and Family Counseling through the Atlantic Theological Seminary.
