Pippi Longstocking: Latchkey Kid or Feral Child?
May 9th, 2009 by timbotron
In an attempt to understand the northern European children’s icon “Pippi Longstocking” (Pippi Långstrump), I recently watched the 1969 film: Pippi Longstocking.
And also because I had suspected her of being the Wendy’s hamburger girl.
Aside from her disturbing habit of flashing her underpants at everyone in a manner akin to Sharon Stone, I was struck by the notion that she could be clinically defined as a “Feral Child,” or minimally a worst-case-scenario “Latchkey Kid.”
Below is the comparative study:
• Latchkey Kid: Left at home, unsupervised, for 3 or more hours a week.
• Feral Child: Has lived apart from human contact from a very young age.
• Pippi Longstocking: Her mother is “with the angels” and her absentee father is preoccupied with a career in open ocean piracy.
• Latchkey Kid: Nearly twice as likely to initiate high-risk behaviors and to develop substance abuse problems.
• Feral Child: Often unable to ever completely adapt to the normal social environment.
• Pippi Longstocking: Takes multiple (unprescribed) medications simultaneously, participates in high-risk behaviors such as lifting a horse over her head.
• Latchkey Kid: Statistically (10%) lower grades and test scores.
• Feral Child: Limited or no use of human language; in some cases, adopting the communication form of the animals who raised them.
• Pippi Longstocking: The ability to communicate with animals, no formal academic training (she cannot read or count properly), and the habit of creating her own words.
• Latchkey Kid: Has a statistically (19%) greater change of having behavioral disorders and depression.
• Feral Child: Has little or no experience with human social behavior and an impaired ability to learn these behaviors.
• Pippi Longstocking: Displays an inability to practice or understand behavioral norms, resulting in public disturbances, petty theft, hanging from light fixtures, and singing.
• Latchkey Kid: Greater ability for self-reliance with respect to everyday/household needs.
• Feral Child: Limited or no ability for grooming or self-care.
• Pippi Longstocking: Wears the same two dresses, bathes only her feet, limited hair grooming, and may suffer from lice.
November 20th, 2009 at 6:04 am
Pippi Rocks
she’s free and fun, she proves that when you do not know a limitation then there is none. She’s awesome. she’s also adhd, I know, I was very like her (still am) but I came from a normal household and had plenty of social interaction. Pippi is just one very cool adhd kid who knows no limits.
January 28th, 2010 at 10:24 pm
Thank you for this homage to Pippi. I had the honor of channeling her before I even read about her (setting=Texas ranch). Complete with the lice (plus impetigo and trench mouth and ringworm). I once built a fort in a pigpen, and I played in the garbage pit and (when in town) drainage ditches. I never lifted my bony horse, but she did step on my (bare) foot once. And we kids would pile onto the back of the wide-body horse, and sometimes try to stand on him a la circus trick. Weeks without bathing. Bliss!
April 12th, 2010 at 6:43 pm
I think your analysis is hilarious, but ultimately her character is so much more complex! Reading the books, I found she has a vivid imagination (could be called a compulsive liar), is highly entertaining (could be called obnoxious), and is highly independent (could be considered a juvenile delinquent), but the teacher tolerates her, the kids love her, parents trust her with their kids, and she is wise beyond her years (in the best nonsensical, unstructured way) because she has been allowed to think for herself. She respects everyone who respects her. She inspires everyone around her, and is happily independent! In a way, she is like an artist, doing what she loves no matter what. What I love absolutely the most about her is the way she embodies such a strong female character. Though she looks like a little girl, she is not only the strongest literally, but she is also strong emotionally and spiritually. She is extremely generous towards everyone, and when grown men talk down to her, she doesn’t balk, but throws them up in the air. She has a great sense of ethics, and she takes good care of her friends, providing them with adventure, games, presents, experiences, imaginative inspiration, and her unedited opinions. While she gives love, she doesn’t depend on anyone, and she probably expects everyone else to do the same. She is totally, authentically herself. If women could all be a little more like her…!