The Oh-So-Scary “Princess Phase” by storygurl05, at There's More to this than Waves 3:52 pm / 24 February 2010
I know that in my blog I’ve been a little hard on Disney. There is a reason behind that though. I don’t think that anything should be taken at face value. I like to question things, always have in fact. But I do think that the Disney Princess hatred can go a little too far.
As I was meandering around the internets… as I’ve been known to do and I stumbled across an article entitled “Is It Possible to Avoid the Princess Phase“. It caught my eye so I read it. Basically it’s this mom who is afraid that if she “[introduces her] kids to traditional Disney fare like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and Beauty and the Beast would be a surefire way to turn them into tiara-wearing maniacs”. These girls aren’t even three yet! She goes on to compliment Dora… apparently this mom hasn’t seen Dora’s new look (also included in that link: Strawberry Shortcake and Rainbow Brights new looks). She also details her own childhood fascination for princesses and that she didn’t end up worse off for it. But yet she doesn’t want that for her girls.
For me, she goes too far.
I consider myself an ardent feminist, but for the record I loved (and still love) the traditional Disney films and I was never a “tiara-wearing maniac”.
The worst I ever did was watch the VHS of Cinderella so many times I wore out the tape (Even now I can remember all the songs).
For me those stories weren’t about waiting for your prince to rescue you … they were about hope that no matter what the situation things could change, that magic does exist. And yeah the magic bit is kind of naive (and I’m now a bit of a romantic) but as a child it’s fun to use your imagination.
I also wholly believe that if you talk to your child about the movies they watch it is helpful. Little kids understand more than they are given credit for.
I think I’m going to watch Cinderella now… just because I can. Just as soon as I finish Sleeping Beauty.
