Too Good To Be True

Recently our house has been targeted by a cult. They didn’t come knocking on the door, but somehow their material has found it’s way into our home. It’s slick, professional, pretty even. It espouses good values like kindness, and turning the other cheek. Their clerics are beautiful, genteel, and charismatic. They seem so harmless. How can anyone so polite be so insidious? I’m at my wit's end, because I don’t know how to combat the propaganda they’re spewing. Of course I'm talking about

Disney Princesses

Now you may think I'm being a little hard on the girls, but really I have had it up to here *indicates forehead* with them. At first I thought that it wasn't so bad. I thought we could dabble in the magic of Disney without being sucked into the marketing vortex of pink, puffy, and perfumed. Niavely I gave these pied-pipers of perkiness the benefit of the doubt. I guess it's because Mulan and Belle brought me a little reassurance.

Oh sure, Ariel has always bugged the crap out of me. Leave your family and your culture, give up your "voice" to win a man you've never even talked too? Somebody's brain is water logged. Of course Ariel is Haley's faaaavorite. And I haven't wanted to make a big deal about it, because whatever is taboo is irresistable. So I plan to let them continue watching the movies, and playing with the dolls. I am not going to put the dresses, plates, cups, books, toothbrushes, rubber stamps and other perephenalia in the Goodwill box. But people, please, help me! I need some tools to counteract the Disney machine!

Just this week I heard two prime examples of the Indoctrination:

> While playing princess with their tater-tots (yes, it's that bad people!) Haley: Help! I'm lost, and I need a boy because I can't find my way on my own.

> Emily: Mom, I killed a fly! See girls can be bug killers too. (It may seem like a girl power thing to say, but why did she need to assert the obvious? Because it's not obvious to her.)

Despite my best efforts trying to engage my kids and dismantle these ideas, I suspect they hear, "Blah blah blah blah princess blah blah blahdeblah prince." I have found a couple of books, which have been helpful, but it's barely scratched the tip of the pink iceberg. So if you have any adult resources or children's books or videos which might help slay the dragon of sexism, let me know. Otherwise I might have to Fed-Ex a poison apple to Michael Eisner.

Comments

[myllissa]

I know this is going to sound very "I have no children" of me, but bear with me. If you asked me when I was small what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would have told you Cinderella. My mother put me in ballet, I started piano lessons at age 8, I was a cheerleader, I was in choir and drama. But, because my mom is very strong, and boarder-line extremist/feminist, I grew up with a very strong sense of "what ever a boy can do, I can do better." She taught me that being a girl isn't a bad thing. It makes us stronger and more capable than a man. I went from ballet slippers and pom-poms to combat boots and machine guns. I love to be dolled up and beautiful, but still have no problem squishing a bug, getting dirty, and firing a gun of all things. She had to be mom and dad to me because my dad traveled a lot for his job. He really wasn't home. It didn't sink in until I was older how much she influenced my sense of self worth and esteem. She was a strong, beautiful, independant, don't need a man unless I want a man, intelligent woman. I admire my mom.

In my opinion, if you're a good role model to your girls I think they'll see through the Disney Magic. I know I did. And as much as Ariel makes you (and me) want to puke, that's the best advice I've got. Sorry.

[Jenny]

Hah! My oldest daughter just told her little friend at school that "Barbie is an idiot." *Averting eyes, shuffling feet and whistling an innocent tune*

She thinks the princesses are okay, but she just isn't a girlie girl. Perhaps I watched Crouching Tiger a few too many times when she was a baby. Hmm.

Maybe seek out books about 'real' girls who don't fit the princess mould - Annie Oakley is a fascinating one.

Or, hey! Dub yourself Queen. Just watch out for those Disney Queens since they are all evil.

[Zoot]

My son couldnt stop talking about Pokemon all the time forever...I guess its always something...

[Ice Queen]

The Ice Prince has no gender guidelines. He wanted to be Fiona, the Princess from Shrek for Hallowe'en, but has recently changed his mind to be a Tiger.

He does like firetrucks. I rented a video for him (Mighty Machines) about firetrucks. After watching it several times, he turns to me and says: "Mommy, how come there aren't any girl firefighters?"

"Oh, there are, " I said, "They just aren't in this particular video."

[Marianne]

Two words of advice Sheryl....Kim Possible. I absolutely LOVE this show and find it to be such a nice little break from the stupid princess theme...she is a cheerleader who also saves the world from time to time. I have sort of a tom-boy type girl who has never gone for the whole princess thing and basically believes she has gotten the short end of the stick with no girl super heroes, so Kim Possible was really a great thing for us. Also, you can try the Powerpuff girls, which my girl also likes, but the problem with them is that they are on Cartoon Network, which I feel the need to carefully monitor, as a lot of their programming is inappropriate. But Kim Possible is on good ol' Disney.

[lizardek]

I recommend Kim Possible, too. :) Also, try The Ordinary Princess by A.A. Milne, although it might be a little above the age range you need.

[Ice Queen]

Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch. That'll put hair on her chest. Errrr..so to speak.

[Coleen]

I'm sure they'll grow out of it. My cousins are all obsessed with the princesses, but eventually they move on to horses or sports or ballet or rugby. Good luck!

(PS. Ariel is sort of my favorite, too. And Mulan and Belle are the only worthy ones of the whole lot.)

[Kira]

Keep at it! When I was born, my mother stencilled on my crib, "Little girl, of all daughters, you were born to be a woman, not a slave." All my childhood she said things like, "nylons are a wallstreet plot to enslave women." And I, being a princess-loving feind, heeded none of it at the time. I was too busy swishing my skirt and mourning the fact that my hair was not yellow, like Cinderella's Blonde? Not good enough.
Fast forward to today! All the lessons, the diatribes and rants, they are indellibly etched in my mind. I believe it. I LIVE it.
And she was totally right about the nylons.

[Genuine]

My little girl Powers UP!! Then she beats the crap out of all the boys in the neighborhood.