Free Republic

Disney princesses such as Elsa from Frozen do not damage young girls' self-esteem and 'may be a powerful force for good', according to new research. US academics studied more than 300 girls and boys and their parents to discover how 'princess culture' affected attitudes over time towards gender stereotypes, body esteem and masculinity. Previous research had suggested the fictional characters beloved by generations of cinemagoers and TV viewers promoted negative female stereotypes by indoctrinating little girls at a young age... ...[Dr Coyne] said that many of the storylines in the latest generation of movies involve working hard to pursue dreams,...

Three 15-year-old girls in Idaho have penned an open letter supporting Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when the two were teenagers. The letter, created Wednesday by teenagers who identify themselves as Layla, Charlotte and Jessica, is being driven by Change.org, a website that allows people to start and sign petitions that “call for social change.” The petition, which has a goal of 1,000 signatures, had reached 723 signatures by Thursday afternoon. In their letter, the three teens commend Ford for going public this week with her allegations. Ford...

Exclusively on Channel 4 News the daughters of the king of Saudi Arabia speak out about being locked away for years....

Halloween is around the corner, so you’re expecting a steady train of ghosts, Hollywood heroes, and princesses to knock on your door. Well, brace yourself. Princesses look different these days. The pre-teen and teenage girls who show up are likely to be wearing trampy costumes that say “s-e-x,” rather than “trick or treat.” We all know that girls are being sexualized by the culture at younger and younger ages in their daily wear. But Halloween costumes have taken things to a new low, making our little girls into sex objects even midst what is supposed to be an evening of...

Britain's top policeman has expressed concerns about the huge cost to the taxpayer of protecting Princess Eugenie and other 'B-list' royals. Scotland Yard chief Sir Paul Stephenson is looking at how best to use resources at his cash strapped force. One area of concern in his budget is the cost of providing armed, round-the-clock protection to guard the 19-year-old princess - a renowned party animal - during her hectic first year at Newcastle University. Insiders conservatively estimate it is £250,000 a year - including the salaries, accommodation, living and travel expenses of two full-time police bodyguards.

The princess industry has been booming in the past few years -- not just the Disney dolls and scratchy toy-store ball gowns that are a rite of passage in most American girlhoods, but a brazen new breed of princess products that target a far wider age range and tap into less seemly attitudes. The hot-pink, leopard-print princess backpacks, T-shirts, purses and bedspreads that girls are now buying (or, rather, their parents are buying for them) have little to do with indulging sweet princess fantasies and everything to do with catering to over-indulged princess egos. [Taste] Sara Schwartz Take the popular...

"...Sweet Sixteen events have exploded in size and popularity at the same time that the Hispanic tradition of the Quinceañera, a party thrown for a girl of 15 to mark her transition into womanhood, is receiving more attention. Though both events are more secular than Bat Mitzvahs, they bear a similar social function to the Jewish tradition. The host and her family -- rather than a committee of ladies-who-lunch -- make the decisions about attendees, decor and entertainment. As a result, the party may be an expression the family's status and wealth -- rather than a rite of passage for...