Dear Female Reindeer,
We all know the movie about Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. It's one that so many people love to watch at this time of year. It has a good message. If someone is different from us, we shouldn't ostracize them. We should celebrate their differences and work together with our combined skill sets to achieve greatness.
But is that a lesson that your community has truly learned?
I think you'll agree with me that they haven't, female reindeer.
Rudolph wasn't allowed to play the reindeer games, a fact that made him so upset that he ran away from home. Well, you female reindeer aren't allowed to play those reindeer games either, but no one ever mentions that. You're taught to just accept it. You attend the games, but you don't get to participate. You don't even get the opportunity to work for Santa. You are taught to have no career aspirations. In fact, you only attend the games so that you can find future potential mates. Now, I know the male reindeer are there so that they can find mates too, but they're also there so that they beginning training for their future careers. Let's take a page from Beyoncé's book here, female reindeer: "marriage can be a source of joy and love and mutual support, but why do we teach girls to aspire to marriage and we don't teach boys the same?"
As if having a lack of education and career prospects aren't enough, you are also treated throughout the movie as if you are weak. When Mrs. Donner wants to go after her missing son, her husband does not allow it. He tells her "this is man's work". I think you'll agree with me, female reindeer, that this is simply absurd. Any mother I know would move heaven and earth to find her missing child. And so, of course, Mrs. Donner goes out after her son. She is a good example of the strength all of you have, female reindeer.
When she, Clarice, and Mr. Donner are captured by the abominable snowman, the blame is placed on the women. If only the women had stayed home, this would not have happened. But Mr. Donner was there too, was he not, female reindeer? This was not because they were weak women. This is because the abominable snowman is more powerful than ANY reindeer.
When all of you, male and female reindeer alike, are rescued by Hermey and Yukon Cornelius, it is said that "they had to get the women back to Christmastown." Excuse me, but Mrs. Donner and Clarice are just as capable and strong as Mr. Donner and Rudolph. There is no special reason why they must get back to Christmastown. If anyone, surely the group must be more worried about Rudolph, who hasn't been seen since he was a child. Also, Mr. Donner must be worried about getting himself back, since it is Christmas Eve after all, and he is one of the reindeer who pulls Santa's sleigh. Mrs. Donner and Clarice should be at the bottom of the priority list here, but they are bumped up to the front, based on their presumed weakness.
Female reindeer, you do not have to deal with this anymore. You are strong. You are capable. You can stand up for yourselves. Do not allow this sexist treatment to keep you from achieving your full potential. Rudolph was ostracized, but then proved himself to be a valuable asset to the community. You can do that too, female reindeer. Your community is deliberately refusing to use half of its resources. Show them why that's wrong. I believe in you.
Sincerely,
A Female Human Who Understands
