Many of you know that I am really anti-princess. Here's my soapbox: We live in a day and age when the whole world is open to women. We can DO anything and BE anything we want to be. And yet in the past few years Disney has been laying on the whole "princess" thing pretty thick which basically tells our daughters that they are helpless pathetic creatures who get into awful binds where there is no escape until alas, the prince comes to rescue them and they are swooped up, taken care of and live happily ever after. What kind of garbage is that?????
I know that most people just find the whole thing harmless but I think it speaks volumes. We need a generation of daughters who can be strong not weak. We need our daughters to understand that life isn't about someone else taking care of them but about them giving and contributing. And lastly marriage is not synonymous with "happily ever after". Marriage with 2 responsible, hard-working, equally yoked, unselfish people is.
So that is why I really enjoyed THIS article from the LA Times yesterday. Enjoy, and for future reference please don't ever give Julia anything "princessy".
15 comments:
Excellent article! I've thought about this after you brought it up in conversation. We need to be so careful about the images portrayed to our children so they can be competent, responsible people.
What a coincidence.. I read that article this AM. The author brought out some good points. Obviously Disney has a hugely successful marketing machine. DD has never been into princesses but I know a ton of girls that are. I will say though princesses are better than those stanky Bratz dolls.
Interesting article amy. I really enjoyed reading it and I agree with Leaking Levee - my daughters will NEVER play with those nasty brazt dolls!!!
He he. I know how anti-Disney you are. You could have written this article!
I hate the Bratz dolls, but I'm OK with the princesses. Though, I think Disney is an evil, giant money making machine, I buy my girls princess stuff 'cause they like to dress up and play pretend. I think it's a little extreme to say the princesses "teach our daughters that they are helpless, pathetic creatures . . ." , but I see your point. I think what's important is the example I set as the most important woman in their lives, and how I help them learn who they are. I see the glittery princess stuff as harmless at my house, because it's just a small part of the bzillion games and projects of the day.
I seriously couldn't disagree with you more. :)
I didn't know how anti-Disney you were, and although I concur with some factors of the article, I find it quite extremist. I'm very selective about the toys and activities my children spend time with, so I could see how it could be worrisome for our daughters if they became obsessive. Any girl who grows up thinking life is a fairytale is seriously deluded.
My daughters went through a short phase of loving the whole princess thing, but really it was just a love of the pretty dresses, the singing, and animals. What's not to love about that?
As Rebecca indicated, it's we mothers, (as our daughters biggest role models), who speak volumes to our children. My girls have taken it upon themselves to personally use color markers to modify the outfits of the princesses in their children's Disney books to make them modest. Hopefully sharing that in itself makes my point clear. They know these princess aren't the end all, be all of women.
This was fun. I love your soapboxes!
I agree completely and have had some opposition to my opinion on this matter. Luckily my boys came first. Sometimes the girls are given princess coloring books, story books, cell phones, etc.... by friends and relatives. I just pass them on before they become attatched. The problem is what toys do you get for girls? I needed some potty prizes and it was all junkie - girlie - glittery stuff. We settled on a my little pony. But as stated earlier Bratz (and Barbies) are worse.
Going back to the origianl topic -I just don't like the modern messages that Disney portrays in pretty much most of its movies and marketing. Even for the boys. I sometimes think of Disneyland as a mini casino for kids.
I know I am extreme in my opinions but you just have to follow your gut when raising kids.
I still haven't read the article but it is refreshing to know I'm not the only one uncomfortable with Disney.
Yikes. Does the ballerina puzzle I sent for Julia's birthday fall into the "princessy" category?
Wow! I hope nobody has ever given Julia anything "princessy"! However, I don't agree. I always played with princesses as a child, but never thought of myself as helpless or pathetic.
Amy - Look at you stirring up controversy!
Melissa - more information please! Why do you disagree?
I think it's fun to play pretend and dress up. What harm is there in that? I'll have to read the article, but I'm with Rebecca and Kate. I'm totally buying Julia a disney dress, high heels, wand, and tiarra oh yeah don't forget the make up and magic mirror, isn't that what being a little girl is about?
Amy I love that you have no qualms about saying what you think. I really don't agree with you, it's all about us teaching our children and not somebody else, but you go girl!
Amy you are so funny. I enjoyed the article and it brought up the point of the absence of mothers in the films that has long irritated me. The one Disney girl that is more often than not left out of the pack is Mulan. She becomes the war hero, and she also actually has a mother (albeit a mother that wants nothing more for her daughter than to just get married). I thought the article was interesting, a tad extreme, but interesting. We are infested with Princess dress ups at our home. I don't mind it really because one thing my daughter at three years old needs to know how to do is be polite and kind to others. She doesn't need help being strong-willed and opinionated for the moment. She needs examples of kindness and gentleness. I think the princesses all do that pretty well. So, "princess behavior" can actually be a positive thing if used in the right way. Every girl is different, and my little girl would most likely be super girly even if she never knew any of the Princesses existed. She's insisted on wearing a dress every day before she could really talk and before any Disney character entered the scene.
I don't really agree with you but it has been interesting to read others comments.
Here I am again... checking in and adding to your now long list of commenters on the topic.
I find it telling that the author of the article has shot herself in the foot by sharing this fact about her daughters,...
"the little darlings ran off to watch "Disney Princess Enchanted Tales" for the 10-billionth time while I glumly cleaned the kitchen."
No wonder why this Mom has "gone mad". Perhaps she is freaking out, because she is relying on Disney and their Tales, to babysit & teach (or in her words, "brainwash" her children. This author loses credibility in her statements as her article is riddled with inconsistencies in regards to her beliefs and actions.
It goes back to my point about whether your daughter becomes obsessive or not. Clearly, the author's decision to let her daughters watch the Disney show so repeatedly would be the contributing factor to becoming obsessed with the princesses.
Re: Happily Ever After. Take Cinderella for example. She's hard working, responsible, loving, self-less, cheerful, giving, & forgiving. These are all attributes that contribute well to making a marriage work. My daughters will learn from me, that in addition to these attributes, it takes a whole lot more.
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