Posted on 10/08/2011 8:46:01 AM PDT by Mandingo Conservative
Girls the world over often go through a "princess phase," enthralled with anything pink and pretty — most especially the Disney princesses.
When it happened to Peggy Orenstein's daughter Daisy, the contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine stepped back to examine the phenomenon. She found that the girlie-girl culture being marketed to little girls was less innocent than it might seem, and can have negative consequences for girls' psychological, social and physical development.
(Excerpt) Read more at mnn.com ...
I think the subject’s concerns about princesses are mainly silly. The distinguishing characteristic of fairy-tale princesses is that they are *good*, not that they are beautiful. This is less apparent in more recent Disney offerings, but even characters like Jasmine and Tiana are smart, loyal and resourceful, if not traditionally self-sacrificing and obedient. And they are chaste and marriage-oriented.
If there’s an emphasis on sexual solicitation or avarice in the larger marketing world, then it’s up to parents to reject it categorically. “Bratz” and pink-sequined thongs are not part of the traditional princess-y milieu, and need not even cross the path of nice young girls who want to play “Snow White.”
The author really over thinks this issue, I believe. She’s simply re-doing the research and hysteria that has come before her. There is nothing new under the sun.
When I was a girl, in the seventies, my mother was very frugal. Most of my playthings came from yard sales. I did play “dress up”, but I could be a magician, a belly dancer, a teacher, or a wizard. I did wear make up with the costumes, but it was for “play” and it was for the theatre of it. I didn’t see it as a feminine thing.
If the parents put the time into their children and frame everything correctly, they can work around any marketing or subliminal messaging that the culture is trying to send out.
My daughter did ballet and jazz for three years. That was a very girly thing for her to do. But, now she lives in blue jeans every day, so that she can rollerblade up and down the street. She’s comfortable with her feminine traits today, because she’s still just a child... but she wants a healthy balance. She wants to get dirty outside and still dance to Taylor Swift when the mood strikes.
Sounds like your daughter is a GRITS (Girls Raised in the South).
Good way to avoid being a 16-year-old single mom. If one is not ready for marriage and motherhood, there’s a lot to be said for associations that aren’t oriented around sex. At 16 (or 18 or 20, or anything short of “ready to settle down) romantic involvements are a lot of work for mainly a lot of hassle ... or a lot of work and you end up with abortion, a baby, and/or a disease.
Be exceptional, not limited. Much better advice. Works for boys AND girls.
Yes and the older I get the younger my Prince will be! LOL
It is also fascinating that neither the author nor the interviewer apparently gives a moment’s thought to the equivalent messages being given to boys.
Which are in many way far more toxic.
I have never been much on princess having know only allegorical ones.
I don’t like pink much except maybe as a swimsuit color for blonde women or in a thong but really much like lace and frilly stuff...it’s one of those things women think is pretty or sexy and then attribute it to men..false..men like other sexiness on women..and colors, apparel or lack of ...it varies but pink is just not it
Pretty...now there you go..I love pretty women..who doesn’t if they aren’t queer..and hell, they do too come to think of it... Since recorded history pretty women have had it made relative to their day. They have always been chosen first, married or bred with successful men and just by sheer luck beat out less fortunate women more often than not in life’s lottery.
It’s like Rush said...feminism is for less attractive gals which likely explains why our women are as a rule hotter than leftist women except maybe in lalaland where ignorance prevails or compels.
Urban Jewish women like Orenstein really have a beef with traditional roles
I think it’s cultural for them. When I lived in Manhattan 30 years ago I noticed pronto these local gals there where a LOT DIFFERENT.
I find it odd that the author conflates the Disney Princess phenomenon with the premature sexualization issue, which is quite real.
I haven’t paid a great deal of attention to the DPs, but I don’t recall them showing much in the way of blatant sexuality.
Perhaps for most, but certainly not for every.
My friends mom was an ex model and as she got older her entire house was done in pink tones and lighting because she looked more attractive in the light. Even their Christmas tree was pink! Pink is a very flattering skin color. That said, if a pretty woman does not age well it must be a real bummer for that woman to look in the mirror!
“Well, like my father used to say, for a few years in her life, every woman gets to be a Princess.”
I had never thought about it in that manner, but your father is a wise man, knows the territory well.
hahahha
“When I was growing up I had British books from the turn of the century, and Kipling, and CS Lewis’ Narnia, that stressed that being a leader or being royal meant to use your power to serve your country, kingdom, or army. “
There are a large number of books from that period of time which should be reprinted. My favorite is “How to be a Man” (1905?).
If I were King, it would be required reading for young men.
We lived in a house with pink interiors once (a rental). After a while we stopped noticing it, and then we’d have guests and they would say, “Oh my goodness, everything’s PINK!”
I think in today’s culture many young girls like to hang with homosexuals because it’s boy time with guys who act like girls, fawn over them yet there is no sexual tension.
I had it with mine too...it was a weird period.
I am a pretty obvious social conservative alpha but I was nice to the sissies..they seemed so weak.
I have never determined to my own satisfaction how much queerness is congenital or conditioned..never yet and I pay attention.
For 25 years now still being in child raising to some degree or another for another 15 or so at least, I’ve watched little boys act so obviously sissy and gayish...and the moms coddle the snot out of them....and the gayer they act the dad either tries harder to thwart it or he disengages.
I don’t know...but the rise of the alpha yet coddler mom in the home has contributed to more gay men my gut tells me...many dads today are soft as butter
On girls...worst thing there is that they have been thoroughly trashed out by culture and likely fembots like the mom in this article under the illusion it’s parity with men...they feeling that men are all sluts.
It’s disgusting...I love girls..and appreciate nakedness and the female form and smell..all that stuff that men here know what I mean...it’s instinctive in us...but today..whew...it’s a Kardashian world and it’s very ugly.
I prefer the old days when Playboy was in the nightstand and Penthouse hidden away as more risque and real porn was something you had to seek out if you wanted it.
Women were more vaunted and protected and not exploited so..less easy and more mysterious.
I would venture average teen girl...average now...not some girl whose folks are really in her life..but even some of them..has at least 8-10 sexual partners in her teens now and may well go crazy in college and do stuff her folks best not know..it’s incredibly cheap
In the mid-late 70s..my time..even with Quaaludes and cheap new Cocaine..women were not that tawdry..in high school..you had to work at it and have some basis of commitment
i tell ya..read studies of antiquity..as the women go...goes the culture
It is amazing how many want to venture a negative opinion directly to my 3 year old about this very topic (mostly middle aged never married females as it turns out). Amazing that they have such insight into her. I tell them that we have no issue if she wants to wear a pink dress when she accepts the Nobel for her work in nuclear physics.
Considering your moniker, and IMHO, the Southren/redneck culture does not suppose the two are incompatible... but rather, is pleased when the two exist together... just sayin.
I am something of a woman’s clothes fag hag metaphorically and actually like shopping with my long time and faithful to exclusively wife/mom to the kids
Her pic is on my homepage and you can see she is olive with highlights that have become more blonde with age by design..like a lot of originally dark haired gals as they head into mid 40s
But pink on her is just not her thing..it’s ok as a bikini. Pink is a color that just does something genetic for women..like cobalt blue or robin hood green does for me
some colors do crossover...periwinkle or inky blue..my wife and I both love that hue
I think most men for lingerie or sexy prefer just satin black or white...it’s just a wiring thing but a lot of gals especially young ones..love pink..Victoria’s Secret has made a fortune just off a PINK line
and yes...I know you’re wondering...I do watch Bravo with her and laugh at the silliness..now look at my pic on my page...I don’t look like your average Bravo viewer do I..lol
and yes..they do disgust me..it’s like a car wreck..you can’t help it
if my wife could have two dinner guests it would be Karl Lagerfield and Kate Moss
She is so into she’s doing a blog..and don’t worry I won’t pimp it here and get the humblegunner hellhound on my trail
Southren?
What no rednecks or white trash in Montana?
I was just there for the 6th or 7th time in my life.
Were I from Montana I’d be careful about tossing those lobs about culture at Southerners or Rednecks...just saying
just a little note...redneck now in the south are mostly wiggers...hard to imagine the Freebird generation spawned such vermin
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