Do Disney Princesses Hurt Self-Image in Little Girls?

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

27 Apr 2007 06:45 AM

Has your little girl ever dressed up like a Disney Princess? Mine has. She had a box of play clothes at age three that included outfits for Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. For her third Halloween, she dressed up in a red Belle (from Beauty in the Beast) gown and called herself the Princess Cassidy. For fourth Halloween, she dressed up in a yellow Belle dress in order to be Belle herself. She loves to play dress up, she loves to play Princess and whether that princess is Jasmine, Aurora, Cinderella, Tinker Bell or other, she loves to become her. I'm pretty sure after she sees The Frog Princess she's going to want to be Maddy, too.

Kids Love to Fantasize

Children enjoy a rich fantasy life when they are young and UCLA child psychologist Dr. Mark DeAntonio believes it's healthy.

I think it's normal for kids to kind of fantasize roles and both boys and girls do this and it's a very normal thing.

But according to a news report delivered by ABC News earlier this week, there are many mothers that are concerned that the plethora of princess products available on the market may actually damage their child's self-esteem.

Women's issues author Peggy Orenstein stated:

When you have 25,000 items beaming at your daughter every day, it stops being really a choice.

While I do not necessarily disagree with the author, the simple fact is that it's not up to the marketers to provide our daughters with their choices. It is up to those of us who parent them to present them with their choices. This is why my daughter who loves Princesses also loves dinosaurs, animals, fairies, cars and superheroes (The Incredibles) and more.

Disney offers our children access to fairy tales, make believe and the opportunity to make the world a better place. Looking like a Princess, feeling like a Princess, dressing like a Princess is not about looking and feeling perfect. Trust me, they'll get enough of that later in life with the ultra-skinny models and a world of fashion that promotes miniscule sizes and no curves.

Disney Makes Money off Princesses

Yes, there is no doubt whatsoever that Disney makes a lot of money off their princess franchise. And as much as I love Disney, I'd enjoy a wider variety of their Disney characters being made available in merchandise. Yes, Disney princesses appeal to our kids, but then so does the Ogre Princess Fiona from Shrek. If parents are concerned about the plethora of princess products damaging their children's self-esteem, then I would suggest and suggest strongly that they focus their efforts in supporting, building and educating their children about self-esteem, values and what is valuable in the world.

It's not the appearance that children are enchanted by - it's the idea of them. Disney may provide the vehicle of make believe that our children want to travel on, but as parents, we can provide them with other vehicles as well.

Are you worried about the effect of Disney Princesses on your daughters?

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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Katie Parker (85) 27 Apr 2007 07:10 AM

The Disney princesses teach some good values; most of them don't get their crowns until they sacrifice and help others. However, I worry that too many little girls only aspire to the "princess" aspect of things--being the center of attention, wearing pretty clothes, and letting other people do all the work.

Heather Long (16954) 27 Apr 2007 08:37 AM

I can appreciate that. But I still think that's where we the parents come in. My daughter likens herself to Cinderella when she has to clean her room or pick up after herself. When I remind her that for all her hard work, Cinderella was rewarded and she appreciates that idea too!