The other night Brooklynn was looking at one of our wedding pictures and turned to Steve and I and said, "I want to get married NOW! I want a prince to marry now." We began to explain to her that she could get married when she was older....much older. After throwing a small fit, Steve became agitated and told her we may have to stop watching, playing with, and even associating her with the princesses (the Disney princesses that is). I know he didn't mean that (as she was utterly upset), but we've always been a little wary of the effect of the Disney princess movement.
A few months ago I read "Help! Cinderella ate my Daughter" by Peggy Orenstein. I knew it was a must-read with a pink-obsessed daughter. Since I didn't play much with dolls, Barbies, or watch the princess movies, I wasn't sure of the consequences effects of it all. As I read it I couldn't help by think we were making poor choices by allowing Brooklynn to be engulfed with this phenomena of pink, Barbies, and princesses. But then I also realized I had to take the author's opinion with a grain of salt. Here was a feminist who refused to allow her daughter to play with anything pink, girly, or princess-y. She insisted girls who play with that stuff will have daughters who grow up to be needy with no sense of reality, thinking fairy tales are a reality.
After long conversations, we've decided to embrace allow the girls to watch the movies, read the books, and even own some of the toys. Of course we'd rather they had other interests, but I think embracing what makes them happy is the most important. We do make sure to talk to them about the stories, but I want them to make the decision on their own of what they think life and relationships are all about. Just like any issue as a parent, it's imperative to education them but let them go and make their own choices and hope they make the right ones and learn from the wrong ones. I hardly believe that playing with this stuff as a 3 year-old will make her competitive with other girls, need a prince to marry at 18, and be consumed with her appearance!
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