I'm sure all of you have heard of Disney's all-girls team franchise known as Disney Princesses. The Princesses were just the separate, disunited, heroines of Disney animated films-- Snow White, Cinderella, Ariel, Aurora, Pocahontas, Jasmine, Belle, and Mulan. Then Disney's Andy Mooney got the idea of bringing the gals together in a team. With a wave of the wand they were all elevated to royal status and set loose on the world. Today, there is no little girl in the wired, industrial world who does not seek to display her allegiance to the pink-gold-and-purple clad Disney dynasty.

Just like Ruth Handler's did with her blond actual-woman-shaped doll, Barbie, Disney likes to think of the Princesses as role models. But then concerns were raised that the franchise could give young girls the wrong message.

On December 24, 2006, Peggy Orenstein published, “What’s Wrong With Cinderella?” in the New York Times which discussed her concerns about the effects of princess figures on young girls.

Why deprive a child of fun and entertainment while she is young enough to enjoy them because of a value judgment she may not share when she grows up? By the time she will be able to buy whatever she wants, it will be too late, even if she will be able to find the same material. Of course, by then, something else will be on the market instead, but if, suppose, she could find it, won't she feel that she was unfairly deprived of all that fun while at the proper age, whereas by then, she will just be too old to fully enjoy it?

There is nothing wrong with dreaming of being a princess and with wearing feminine clothes. Playing princess is just normal child behavior and appeals to a deep desire to be feminine.

As Andy Mooney said (quoted form ABC News): "They are caring, they are loving, they are friendly, they are courteous," he said of his princess creations. "This is really not about being a damsel in distress. This is really about these girls projecting themselves into the life of a princess and the environment of a princess, and kind of really reveling in that moment."

I, my self, had my own collection of Barbie and I still watch Barbie's movies. I adore all Disney's fairytales and its beautiful princesses. I once dreamed being in captivity, waiting for my prince in shining armor come to make me his only queen in his castle. The idea of wearing pink-ish gown and tiara crosses every little girl's mind.

The values that kids really pick up on and incorporate are really more the values they're exposed to with their family, within their community, with people, not from made-up princesses. In the long run, an affection for all things pink and sparkly may not matter. Kids define things differently, both as children and later when they reach adulthood. And, to a reasonable extent, adults should respect that.

They need some breathing room to define these things for themselves as they mature.

We could very well find that, in 20 years, all these little Ariel-wannabes have completely rejected the whole idea of the princess thing and become strong-minded, independent women as a RESULT of playacting the helpless, mindless, fainting naifs.

We just don't know.

All I want to say is...Hey Peggy - leave those with imagination, heart, and creativity alone; no one has imagination until Disney sells it to them. Why the overwhelming need to vomit your sour ideas all over others? As anyone who truly examines these films can see, there is much more to these "princesses" than a cute face and a tiara. Why should a woman be criticized for wanting to be a princess/housewife? If it's all about choice in life, why slam this particular one? Make your own choice in life and be comfortable with it. Boy you need to lighten up!! Sounds like you never have had any fun!

Nowadays, even Dora, who bounds through the jungle saving baby jaguars, whose mother is an archaeologist and whose adventures don't involve smoochy rescues by Diego, has gone Princess.

Labels: random, thoughts