Princess vs Reality

Princess vs. Reality

The Princess Culture, is something that entirely intrigues me, and may or may not be an addiction. Growing up in the 90’s Disney had just finished what they call the Princess Collection. I would be lying if I said that I didn’t religiously watch them all and pick my favorite while playing with my barbies. I remember having princess costumes and dressing up like Jasmine just to go to Wal-Mart. Today I do like to think of myself as a princess but disagree with Laucius’ notion that being a “princess” goes hand in hand with being a “narcissist” there may be connections between the two but, not for most. I feel that young girls that grew up in the 90’s when the movies were most popular received a better message than the young girls today. When I was younger it seemed to me the stories the princesses were associated with gave a positive, clear, life lesson. The princesses displayed a certain confidence, hope, independence, and strength. As a young girl watching these beautiful women as perfect examples makes the inner princess strive to be like those women. Today the message girls are getting from the princesses is about clothing and hair styles, about being “better” than the rest in a competitive way. I would even go so far to say the princesses have become a race issue. Jasmine was my favorite princess and from the movie Aladdin. Recently (since around 2001) jasmine has been essentially eliminated from the “Princess Brand” items can be found, but it is much harder to find Jasmine themed anything. All the others remain the same, yet Jasmine is missing. In 2001 America went to war, Jasmine is Arabian and therefor is our “enemy”, or at least they make it seem that way. Also recently a new princess was added to the collection, the princess and the frog, the princess is African American. I am ALL FOR teaching equality through interracial characters, in fact I believe it is NECESSARY. I disagree with the way the market has hinted at the racial issues facing America today. The story lines could even be analyzed as racist story lines, this is teaching stereotype and inferiority at a dangerously young age.