This morning Gene and I were talking about the grandkids and at one point mentioning how granddaughter likes calling herself a princess. My husband asked where she got that idea and I responded “Well, from cartoons I am sure.”
So that made me think about my own childhood and about that of many girls and how most of us are brought up on the idea of the “Princess and Prince charming dream” up to and including our weddings and all the hoopla that goes with them.
I thought about the many books I read as a kid, so many fairy tales and so many princesses needing to be rescued but then living happily ever after with their prince/knight in shining armor.
I said to Gene, “I can’t help wonder if the whole Princess thing is a hindrance to little girls who grow up to subconsciously expect to find their Prince Charming and charmed life ever after, only to learn that life is just life with its ups and downs?”
“I’m not sure,” he replied.
“Well I also read an awful lot of pioneer stories too, I didn’t just read fairy tales” I said.
“So you are a pioneer-Princess?”
“I guess so” I replied.
Nancy: I'm sure I'm in a minority, but I have huge problems with the whole Disney portrayal of young women. I grew up with the very same concepts of flowing beautiful hair, petite features, tiny waists, graceful feet, plump luscious lips. Gah. Disney women are sexualized - no matter what the story line is or the lesson trying to be taught. I think it's disgraceful.
ReplyDeleteI also have to share that I get notifications when you post here. The reason I haven't be coming is that I thought the notifications I was getting were from the Crystal Bridges Museum in Arkansas. :))) I just figured that out.