We have all seen regurgitated versions of this character in books and movies. She smokes, she breaks rules, she’ll take you on an adventure, her hair is fried from blue or pink dye, she listens to music on vinyl and personifies quirky sundresses. You know her. She’s the embodiment of the modern fairy tale; she’ll save you from your boring job, your boring life, your boring friends, your boring mother. She’s a breath of fresh air, all vintage and “flawed.”

However, if the description of this wonder girl character makes her sound so likeable and wonderful, why is it that she’s one of the most deadly ideas that have existed in the modern world? Think about it, the manic pixie dream girl is called a dream girl for a reason. Think of Natalie Portman (as Sam) in Garden State, or Audrey Hepburn (as Holly Golightly) in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, or even Alaska Young in Looking for Alaska; what do they all have in common?

Manic pixie dream girls are false mysteries. They come with the idea that they’re going to bring you back to life from the decorum of tedious 9-5 jobs by spontaneously sobbing during commercials, or doing something no one has ever done before in that exact spot (Looking at you here, Sam). These girls only exist in the perceptions of male characters, delicate writers, and sensitive directors. The problem is that we fail to realize that they don’t live their frenzied lives just for the heck of it.

(Read also: Women in literature that you must read)

There is a deep-rooted yet ever so subtle yearning for attention in a manic pixie dream girl. No wonder they slug whiskey before getting in trouble, or, as Hana Wolff puts it, “they’re trapped in the fishnets and lipstick of their own minds.” In search of the same level of engrossment MPDGs attract, the young girls of our generation have set them up as role models. They’ve begun to think that self destruction is sexy, or that they will be loved only as broken, anxious girls. 

In truth, the idea of a manic pixie dream girl involves inherent sexism; why else would these girls perfectly fit into their male love interests for no reason? Why are teens and preteens alike nowadays changing aspects of their own character in order to mold themselves into tragic heroines? 

Under the utter roundness of their characters, they are totally dehumanized. MPDGs are simply a retake on the objectification they were trying to deviate from: blonde bimbos whose only purpose is to heighten the suave element of a protagonist. Only this time, the objectification is replaced with the fetishism of dyed hair, distinct quirks, and low self esteem. 

How did we get here? More importantly, how do we stop?

 

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Jaanam Jaswani is a student, blogger and occasional poet. Impulsive and controversial, she has an insatiable curiosity when it comes to literature, performance arts, film, philosophy, and food. She can be found on biryanibabe.blogspot.co.id, @exist_sensual on Instagram, or @inbreadwecrust on Twitter.

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