The Princess Obsession

The Princess Obsession

The Princess Obsession

Why your little princess is obsessed with them.

You know the drill. You ask her what she wants to do for her birthday party and she insists on a princess birthday party theme. Why is she so obsessed, and is it healthy? Is it the desire to have servants to do all the household chores or the wish of a lavish lifestyle with beautiful gowns, sparkling jewels and adoring peasants? Or is it the belief that somewhere deep inside every girl there is a little bit of royalty? Why does she want to sleep with her crown on? This obsession with princesses can't be good for girls in today's world. Or could it be?

Princesses might have all they want, but it's more than that. The way Disney portrays the Cinderella story shows a kind and gentle princess who had to work hard to get where she was. The rags were transformed into a gown and she went to the ball, but the change didn't spoil her. This princess' beauty goes well beyond the blue eyes and perfect skin. Cinderella's grace and charm were evident because of the dignity and kindness she continued to show, even through trying times when her step-mother and step-sisters treated her as a servant in her own home. The message is a powerful one for little girls who covet the princess life: Part of what makes a princess is how you act, even during the most difficult of times.

And what about marrying a handsome prince and being carried into the sunset? Is it a little naive to expect that a man will take care of you and treat you like royalty without you having to lift a finger? "Women are spoon-fed the Cinderella myth from childhood," says Cele Otnes, a University of Illinois consumer behaviorist and co-author of Cinderella Dreams: The Allure of a Lavish Wedding. Maybe it's old-school, but in my opinion, there's nothing inherently wrong with a little princess hoping for a handsome prince to care for her. Who doesn't crave stability and security? And while a girl needs to become educated and accomplish goals of her own, the prince represents the possibility of feeling loved unconditionally and protected. I may be old fashioned, but there is value in finding a supportive partner. I certainly appreciate those things. And I don't think it's too impossible to hope that a good man might want to protect and provide for a woman he loves.

Another reason for princess appeal is the fantasy aspect. Mattel brands President Matt Bousquette says; "There's more and more pressure today for girls to conform and compete in school, in sports. It's hard for young girls. Parents realize the value of play and fantasy. Barbie Princess is a release valve for young girls to believe in happily ever after."

The princess obsession little girls have speaks to me most, when it comes to the question of self worth. I believe part of why little girls want to act as princesses at their birthday parties or why they have every last Disney princess movie memorized is simple: They want to be important. Princesses are important. And after the glass slippers and sparkly makeup comes off, girls want to know that there truly is a spark of royalty inside them. It's like the line from "The Little Princess"."all girls are princesses". In my opinion, if every girl really believed this, we'd have far fewer teen pregnancies and suicides and more girls reaching for goals that touch more people than those in their immediate kingdoms.

So while it might get old, that she wants to wear that old Snow White dress even though it is literally falling apart, don't be so quick to discourage the princess obsession. It might just play a role in keeping your little princess in tune with who she really is and what she could become.

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