Modern Versions of “Sugar & Spice, and Everything Nice”
And how they set girls up to tolerate abuse
When I was growing up in the 1970s, adults frequently reproached me with “girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice.” This was their way of saying, “stop it,” the way you are behaving is not lady-like, perhaps because I was playing like a tomboy, speaking up for myself or questioning their authority. The phrase was used to put me in my place and to silence me. It also sent the clear message that what was allowable for boys, was not allowable for girls.
What are little boys made of?
What are little boys made of?
Snips and snails
And puppy-dogs’ tails
That’s what little boys are made of
What are little girls made of?
What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice
And everything niceThat’s what little girls are made of
The original poem was published over 200 years ago, and while this particular phrasing isn’t used as much today (or is it?), we are still reinforcing the notion that girls/women should be nice, and boys/men are wild and not accountable for their actions.
