Girl Power

There's an interesting article in the New York Times today about the new character on Sesame Street--at long last a female lead named Abby Cadabby. The discussion deals with PBS's decision to make her a 'girly girl' and how that conflicts or not with their progressive agenda. She's pink, fairy rather than human or monster, and likes dresses and frills. Most of the producers support it, but a few seem unnerved by what they see as a problematic resort to female stereotypes as well as a blatant stab at commercialism. It's pretty interesting.