"Cinderella ate my daughter"

[JacksLilWench]

Before I begin this, I do have a disclaimer: I do not have any kids, nor am I expecting any anytime soon at all. But I do have an issue with Peggy Orenstein's new book by this title. The first is, do parents actually believe this happens spontaneously? Like, one day, Cinderella just knocks on your door and your four-year-old daughter answers and that's a wrap? I don't buy that for a second. It's my understanding that four-year-olds don't have jobs...therefore can't buy their own glitter and Barbies and feathers and sparkles and Princess t-shirts and Disney movies and pink anything. So what am I missing??

And before you flame me, please remember this: I am not a parent, nor a parenting expert (I have been known to babysit though ), I just truly don't understand this phenomenon.

Besides, wouldn't you rather have your kid be eaten by Cinderella than Hannah Montana??

 

[WaltD4Me]

Eh. I read about this book and the synopsis of it. I think it's silly, but anybody can write a book. I don't see a thing wrong with girls who like princesses. I loved them myself when I was little and I turned out pretty darn independent. I also don't think there is anything wrong with girls who like trucks and cars. Either way, I have found the child pretty much decides themselves what interests them no matter what color you paint their room.

 

[auroralark]

I'm also not a parent, but I agree with you. When I was a little girl I LOVED princesses (And Barbies). Guess what? I also liked non-girly things. Many girls just happen to like princess stuff, and I don't think there's anything wrong with it. Kids like what they like, and let them enjoy it! Childhood goes by so fast.

 

[bkoehl]

I have to agree with the previous posts, kids like what they like. I am the MOST ungirlie girl ever and my friends all laugh at me that I got the daughter who is SO girlie and princess-y. I have tried to get her to like soccer and sports and to wear colors other than pink and purple. But she wears a dress everyday, thinks the littler things are the better and cuter and has no interest in sports...... if I can just keep her from being a cheerleader (just a joke people!) I will have won the war if not the battles.

 

[Ericandjenng]

15 minutes of fame for the author?

I wasn't a "princess" but I have always loved barbies, glitter, ballet and lots of other girlie things. But I also tried Basketball with the boys in a rec league (middle school) and as a kid got out and played in the dirt.

Now my DD is a Princess! Are we promoting the "Princess Ideal" to her and all that? YES!! We worked hard to get her and our DS in this world. She's only 13 months old and already a little Fashionista. And our DS is a drama queen (ok king) and a clothes horse but he loves skateboarding, bey blades, cars, trucks, trains...and all the boy things!

 

[kbelle8995]

Disclaimer-I don't have a child. End of disclaimer.

But if I did have a daughter I would rather she love Cinderella than Paris Hilton. I'm still angry with her for bringing the whole dogs as assessories thing.

I'm sure someone will defend Paris Hilton. On the upside we haven't seen much of her these days.

 

[bear_mom]

I haven't read the book, and probably won't, but I don't think princess are all that bad. My two dds were princess crazy when they were toddlers. I actually went out on Christmas Eve when older dd was 3 and finally told us what she wanted from Santa - a Cinderella dress, shoes and wand.

They are now 11 and 8 and are pretty well rounded. I think it has to do with what the parents expose the children to more than anything. Treat your child like a princess all the time and a princess they will become.

I could easily see younger dd having this attitude if we allowed it. But dh and I, as parents put a limit on her "princessy" behavior that we don't like and expect that she behave a certain way. (we try, we are still working on this, but when is raising children ever easy)

Emily

 

[SAHDad]

It looks as though the book is just a longer version of an article she wrote a couple years ago, complaining about Disney and princesses in general.

My daughter likes all things princess, loves pink and purple, and sings princess songs for much of the day. In between, she is playing Star Wars with her brother, and they are running around blasting bad guys and saving the prince. And I am fine with that.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I'm in the middle of reading the book right now. It's quite wonderful.

 

[brergnat]

This author has an article in this month's Parents Magazine. I found it quite brilliant, actually.

I don't even have daughters (thank GOD!), I have two sons. I am SO happy to not have to be dealing with the whole 'Princess' thing right now. It would seriously drive me up the wall. I think it's just absolutely out of control.

I actually applaud this woman for stepping up and writing this book. This topic needed to be addressed so that all the parents out there raising "princesses" can, perhaps, see how it's not all that positive a thing.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I actually applaud this woman for stepping up and writing this book. This topic needed to be addressed so that all the parents out there raising "princesses" can, perhaps, see how it's not all that positive a thing.

In her opinion.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

In her opinion.

It's more than that. I think objectively, the princess phenomenon isn't all good. There are few things in life that are all good. Something this polarizing surely isn't.

 

[WaltD4Me]

It's more than that. I think objectively, the princess phenomenon isn't all good. There are few things in life that are all good. Something this polarizing surely isn't.

What phenomenon is all good? ... Or all bad?

 

[jcb]

What phenomenon is all good? ... Or all bad?

Tribbles.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

What phenomenon is all good? ... Or all bad?

Concierge level at Walt Disney World.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Tribbles.

Had to Google, but

 

[daneenm]

Went out and read an article by this author. I think if you take anything all or nothing, it is not necessarily a good thing. I will tell you that my daughter, insisted on dresses until 4th grade, loved to dress up, was a fan of pink and purple and anything sparkly AND...loved her Matchbox cars, Legos and soccer ball too. She is now 14, a straight A student in an accelerated curriculum, wears lip gloss only on occasion, knows what clothing we believe is appropriate for her age, has never asked about a diet, and swims competitively year round.

All this to say...I do not think you need to ban all things 'girlie' to raise a strong, well adjusted young woman.

 

[princessbride6205]

Haven't read the book, but I guess I feel like it's a non-issue.

I'm trying to keep my daughter balanced between princesses and less-girly pursuits, and it hasn't been a problem. I think I might like princesses more than she does! While she loves tutus and likes princesses & fairies, she's even more enamored with Toy Story. On our trip to WDW a few weeks ago, she wore her Rapunzel dress one day and her Woody costume the next.

 

[DrMomof3]

I hadn't heard of this book until this thread. I have 3 kids - 2 boys and the girliest of girlie girls. She just turned 5 and is rapidly outgrowing the princess phase in favor of Hannah Montana, High School Musical, Camp Rock, etc.
While I certainly don't think being into pink and princesses is bad, I am intrigued enough to want to read this book. I think there are a lot of mixed messages out there for girls - especially tweens and teens - and from the reviews I've read, this book is more than just a bashing of Disney.
I hope that I set a good example for my daughter (I am a surgeon - subspecialist - who tries to balance work and home life - while retaining my own identity despite being the only female physician in my department). Raising children isn't easy and I find my daughter is particularly challenging for me. Not that teenage sex didn't occur when I was growing up but the world is definitely a different place with the internet here. If this author has any words of wisdom to help me navigate the minefield, I'm happy to listen!

Amanda

 

[DisneyDispatch]

For those who'd like to read an interview that Peggy Orenstein (the author of Cinderella Ate My Daughter) gave to a Disney site, here's the link:

http://disneydispatch.com/content/features/2011/interview-peggy-orenstein

Neither her nor her book are really quite so bad as some people think!

As a previous poster said, for most it's a non-issue...