Ashley Noel

Lumberjanes

Category A-1

I solemnly swear to do my best

Every day, and in all that I do,

To be brave and strong,

To be truthful and compassionate,

To be interesting and interested,

To pay attention and question

The world around me,

To think of others first,

To always help and protect my friends

(Then there’s a line about God, or whatever)

And to make the world a better place

For Lumberjane scouts

And for everyone else.

The Lumberjanes Pledge is a great representation of what this comic is about. The main characters Jo, April, Molly, Ripley, and Mal are strong, creative young girls that defy society’s gender norms.Each character embodies the promise of the pledge through their actions in the comic. The first topic the pledge introduces is bravery. These five girl traverse the forest at night with little fear, encounter ferocious magical beasts. While the comic has magical elements to it, the girls are portrayed as normal. They don’t have superpowers in the traditional strength. Molly’s defeat of the stone guard in an armwrestling match isn’t due to her super strength. The underlying message is that girls can be strong and that isn’t weird or supernatural. This depiction increases female agency and relates a message to a young audience of girls that they too can be like the lumberjanes. Compassion and Truth pervades the text as the girls are on the their investigation and in their handling of Ripley. Ripley is an energetic young girl who would be deemed as strange by society conventions. Her random, comedic outbursts are handled with care as the girls never make Ripley feel stupid. She is in a same space where she can expresses herself without judgment. Interest. The girls are so inquisitive, a quality that society almost beats out of girls. They aren’t complacent with simple answers. The whole comic is based on their interest in the mysteries of their environment. Selflessness and Friendship. Attentive to each other, the girls value their friendship greatly. Their motto of “friendship to the max” supports female unity instead of competition. Even when their grouchy cabin master Jen is in danger, the girls still protect her because above everything they care about people. Religion. The cross off about religion really highlights that this comic is a personal manual. Young children don’t really have a true understanding of God or a persona connection with religion that isn’t mandated by their relatives. The cross off isn’t disrespectful just more realistic. The last line resonates the most: “And to make the world a better place for Lumberjane scouts and everyone else.” The heroic, creative, and intelligent action of the girls show an audience of the true power of a girl. They took everything society says girls can’t be and proved it wrong. Girls can be smart, strong, brave, compassion, and selfless. These facets aren’t in competition. They can be in harmony and thus make the world a better place.