Girls in princess costumes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is one of those things that bothered me as a childless observer but stopped bothering me as a mom who saw the totality of these girls’ interests and experiences.

Also, watch Brave. Brave and Mulan are my two favorite disney princess movies. But I think we can also give a shout out to Snow White, who was a kind and forgiving person who maintained a positive attitude despite significant life setbacks and also displayed remarkably little ageism or abilityism — how many medieval nobles would be willing to sweep the floor for a household of little people? Sure, she didn’t save herself but isn’t there a quiet heroism in maintaining your dignity, kindness and tolerance in a world that is set up to deprive you of agency over your own future? Just a thought….

The Rapunesel story is the one that really creeps me out with the demonized mother figure. And Beauty and the Beast because the Beast clearly has deep seated anger control issues and is probably emotionally or physically abusing her before their fifth wedding anniversary. But the yellow dress is pretty and I like her hair.

You may like this article, PP. https://medium.com/@gbailen/disney-princesses-ranked-from-least-to-most-feminist-5addd29141b0

[Anonymous]

Major eye-roll OP. My SIL is like you and when we offered our DD’s princess dresses for dress-up, she said, oh we’re going to avoid the princess phase. (Just like these poor 5 year olds aren’t allowed to taste juice, have sweets etc). I think her kids will be more influenced by her useless DH, who does nothing around the house and can’t be left alone with the kids, than whether they have princess dress up clothes!!

[Anonymous]

If my daughter grows up with even a fraction of the bravery, commitment to righting the wrongs of the past, and commitment to family that Elsa and Anna possess, the world will be a better place!

[Anonymous]

I follow my daughter’s lead. She loves to read and write stories, likes math, and is a good student. She also loves princesses, unicorns, rainbows, shiny things, dressing up etc because she’s 6 and those things make her happy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I follow my daughter’s lead. She loves to read and write stories, likes math, and is a good student. She also loves princesses, unicorns, rainbows, shiny things, dressing up etc because she’s 6 and those things make her happy!

Adding in that she chose to dress as a pirate princess for Halloween last year and my son was a pirate.

[Anonymous]

If you like to wear clothes, makeup, hairstyles, etc. that help you feel attractive and confident, then you are teaching your daughter that it’s ok to for her to do the same. And it is OK! My DD wore a princess dress with a big, full, puffy skirt last night. She felt like a million bucks and walked around with her head held high! I wouldn’t dream of taking that away from her.

She can also name all of Jupiter’s moons so I’m not too concerned about style over substance yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am I a bad person that I have a visceral reaction when I see girls in traditional princess costumes? If they’re non-traditional like Mulan or Leia (ie people who actually DO something) I’m okay with it. Even the Frozen princesses who are so popular nowadays seem to just exist to be blonde and pretty. Btw I have a 5yo and so far we’ve been doing creative/neutral costumes like doctor or monkey, but she’s starting to get influenced by her K classmates :-/

Yes.

I agree. Op, have you seen frozen or are you just so woke that you're assuming the non traditional (read: nonwhite, apparently)heroines are by default more important and valuable?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is one of those things that bothered me as a childless observer but stopped bothering me as a mom who saw the totality of these girls’ interests and experiences.

Also, watch Brave. Brave and Mulan are my two favorite disney princess movies. But I think we can also give a shout out to Snow White, who was a kind and forgiving person who maintained a positive attitude despite significant life setbacks and also displayed remarkably little ageism or abilityism — how many medieval nobles would be willing to sweep the floor for a household of little people? Sure, she didn’t save herself but isn’t there a quiet heroism in maintaining your dignity, kindness and tolerance in a world that is set up to deprive you of agency over your own future? Just a thought….

The Rapunesel story is the one that really creeps me out with the demonized mother figure. And Beauty and the Beast because the Beast clearly has deep seated anger control issues and is probably emotionally or physically abusing her before their fifth wedding anniversary. But the yellow dress is pretty and I like her hair.

You may like this article, PP. https://medium.com/@gbailen/disney-princesses-ranked-from-least-to-most-feminist-5addd29141b0

Interesting. I was wondering why PP hadn't mentioned badass Moana!

[Anonymous]

Ugh people like you are so annoying. No one will tell you this to your face so I will tell it to you here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am I a bad person that I have a visceral reaction when I see girls in traditional princess costumes? If they’re non-traditional like Mulan or Leia (ie people who actually DO something) I’m okay with it. Even the Frozen princesses who are so popular nowadays seem to just exist to be blonde and pretty. Btw I have a 5yo and so far we’ve been doing creative/neutral costumes like doctor or monkey, but she’s starting to get influenced by her K classmates :-/

I don’t think you are a bad person, but it is bad. You may want to think about getting therapy to understand why it bothers you so much.

Oh I know why it bothers me - because I respect (and want DD to emulate) people who do things rather than people who are just pretty. Same reason I prefer Elena Kagan to Kim Kardashian. But yes, I should recognize it’s a phase, likely fueled by peer pressure, and has little bearing on future interests.

I am no Kim Kardashian fan but you are being unfair. She is doing something, like running her business and going to law school!

[Anonymous]

It's a phase. My daughter dressed up for Disney on Ice for 3 years in a row and did Anna one Halloween. She's 12 now and I don't think she's worn a dress in 2 years. Most of the girls at her middle school are wearing oversized jeans and drab colored, oversized sweatshirts. She was a super hero this year for Halloween and among her friends, not one girly or princess costume. It's a phase so don't stress.

[Anonymous]

OP, let me guess. Are you the same mom that is moved and crying happy tears when is a little boy who is wearing the same princess costume?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am I a bad person that I have a visceral reaction when I see girls in traditional princess costumes? If they’re non-traditional like Mulan or Leia (ie people who actually DO something) I’m okay with it. Even the Frozen princesses who are so popular nowadays seem to just exist to be blonde and pretty. Btw I have a 5yo and so far we’ve been doing creative/neutral costumes like doctor or monkey, but she’s starting to get influenced by her K classmates :-/

Yes.

I agree. Op, have you seen frozen or are you just so woke that you're assuming the non traditional (read: nonwhite, apparently)heroines are by default more important and valuable?

+1

[Anonymous]

My daughter loves mermaids and princesses. She used to love paw patrol and pj masks. I don’t see it being any different than my boys liking dinosaurs and superheroes. We are asian so not blonde.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is one of those things that bothered me as a childless observer but stopped bothering me as a mom who saw the totality of these girls’ interests and experiences.

Also, watch Brave. Brave and Mulan are my two favorite disney princess movies. But I think we can also give a shout out to Snow White, who was a kind and forgiving person who maintained a positive attitude despite significant life setbacks and also displayed remarkably little ageism or abilityism — how many medieval nobles would be willing to sweep the floor for a household of little people? Sure, she didn’t save herself but isn’t there a quiet heroism in maintaining your dignity, kindness and tolerance in a world that is set up to deprive you of agency over your own future? Just a thought….

The Rapunesel story is the one that really creeps me out with the demonized mother figure. And Beauty and the Beast because the Beast clearly has deep seated anger control issues and is probably emotionally or physically abusing her before their fifth wedding anniversary. But the yellow dress is pretty and I like her hair.

You may like this article, PP. https://medium.com/@gbailen/disney-princesses-ranked-from-least-to-most-feminist-5addd29141b0

Interesting. I was wondering why PP hadn't mentioned badass Moana!

I’m PP and I love Moana! I never really think of her as a Princess because I think disney hasn’t marketed her as part of the Princess clique for merch? Anyway she’s great and my kids are SUPER sick of my rendition of “I thought I could be the perfect daughter but I come back to the water….” (Which I accompany with expressive dance moves). It’s like Let It Go all over again.
It’s funny because I grew up in the pre-Princess 70s, so wasn’t particularly interested in this, and thought the pink Princess obsession of the late 80s and early 90s was a weird monarch fetish propagated by Disney. I mean, I can get behind a nice ballgown, but why does it have to come with a hereditary system of non-democratic governance? But I do love a good Disney movie with a toe tapping theme song.