At least when I grew up in the late 80s and 90s both boys and girls read the books and watched the movies with Pippi.
I agree that Hollywood is a blight on the cultural landscape, and you basically have to disregard their movies if you want to find something deeper than a puddle, with exceptions few and far between
Then you shouldn't use that phrase in the marriage vows, that's the issue. If you don't promise the forever, you are not failing the promise