"Princess Mania"

Disney movies about princesses, fairy tales, and happily ever afters have been popular among children for quite some time. I remember the joys of watching movies like Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, and Cinderella as a child. Unlike the majority of young girls, I was never really consumed by the princess culture while growing up. Therefore, it is important to note that not every child becomes consumed by the idea of one day being a princess. However, the twentieth century, a time of rising consumerism and capitalism, has ushered in a “princess culture” that dominates both popular culture and the lives of many children.

Prior to this week's subject matter, I had not really considered the full extent of how the princess culture affects the attitudes and development of children. However, after reading the articles and listening to Wednesday's discussion, it has become much more apparent that the princess culture can have a tremendous impact on children, especially girls.

The articles for this week, including “Princess Culture Turning Girls into Overspending Narcissists” and “Is Pink Necessary,” discuss the implications of a princess culture and its affect on society. In addition to those articles, I also found an article on NPR, which discusses this rather interesting topic. Within the article “Branding 'Brave': The Cultural Capital of Princesses,” Neda Ulaby defines this culture consumed with princesses as “princess mania.” I think that Neda Ulaby perfectly describes this growing obsession that can have a negative influence on young girls. 

I think that it is interesting how the qualities attributed to princesses, such as having a sense of entitlement, being ultra-feminine, and believing one is in charge, can carry over into adulthood. This princess mentality goes beyond the realm of Disney princesses, it encompasses reality television, the lives of celebrities, and the Internet. The effect that the princess culture can potentially have on childhood development, which also affects adulthood, reinforces the idea that media and popular culture can have a significant impact on our lives, whether we always realize it or not.

Ulaby, Neda. "Branding 'Brave': The Cultural Capital of Princesses." NPR. NPR, 21 June 2012. Web. <http://www.npr.org/2012/06/21/155501245/branding-brave-the-cultural-capital-of-princesses>.