"What's Wrong With Cinderella?"

I can see where Peggy Orenstein’s article “What’s Wrong with Cinderella?” could incite panic among mothers. Orenstein voices her concern over the effects of “princess culture” on our little girls, that overkill on Disney’s end may contribute to unhealthy, un-empowered females later in life. She says that with 25, 000-plus available Princess products from Disney, everything from alarm clocks to undies, the “infatuation with the girlie girl” could in fact smother and oppress young girls. She suggests that this princess worship enforces patriarchal oppression, and creates “the” perfect model girls feel pressure to conform to. After all, Cinderella doesn’t really do anything, except get rescued by Prince Charming.

Or does she? I don’t think Orenstein gave little girls enough credit in her article. Little girls admire the princesses because their idols do have adventures. To a five year old, staying up all the way until midnight, or riding a flying carpet, or changing from a mermaid to a human is an adventure. When I was little, I thought those things were pretty cool! Also, the princesses present more of a capable, subversive edge than you would think. Cinderella endured a difficult life, while being the picture of stead-fastness and optimism. And – she snuck out and tricked her stepmother! “Beauty and the Beast’s” Belle, the town ‘bookworm,’ sought education and made personal sacrifices to save her family. Ariel of “The Little Mermaid” rejected the place her society held for her and sought a new, controversial life on the other side. In my opinion, there’s no need to yank your child’s princess crown away just yet.