Are You Perpetuating Gender Stereotypes by Throwing Your Daughter a Princess Party?

by Catch My Party Posted 2012/07/11 17:00:00

Related Topics: Gender Stereotypes, Lifestyle, Princess, Princess party, Dresses, Parties, birthday, Party, Pink

472 votes
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	Yes, it teaches our daughters the goal in life is to be rescued by Prince Charming!	63 votes	13%
	It is perpetuating a stereotype, but I don’t think it's a big deal.	215 votes	46%
	No, you can’t fight the Princess. It’s genetic!	194 votes	41%

My daughter is a true “girly girl” and has fallen in love with all things princess. I try to include empowering ideas and images into her princess play so it doesn’t bother me that she dresses up in ball gowns and tiaras all day long. If you like pretty princess things, too, you must take a look at these beautiful princess parties on our site.

+18

More polls by Catch My Party

Tella6 2012/07/15 09:44:03

It is perpetuating a stereotype, but I don’t think it's a big deal.

+1
If its what the kid wants.

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Angryface01 2012/07/15 06:49:03

No, you can’t fight the Princess. It’s genetic!

It depends on what kind of princess you show her. If you want her to be a helpless damsel... let her watch all the Disney her eyeballs can tolerate. If you want her to grow into a thoughtful, intelligent, strong woman, then you have to show her one.

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Mikado ... to Angryfa... 2012/07/18 08:45:47

+1
You have not watched enough disney. Jasmine, Esmerelda, Pocahantus, Tinkerbell, Bianca, Belle.. there are MANY bold, brave Disney damsels! And most of them also good role models!

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Mikado Hikyuu 2012/07/14 13:37:35

No, you can’t fight the Princess. It’s genetic!

+1
Princess is not a stereotype, it is a career. One rare occupation that hires few men - one rare dream job for girls! Only pessimists would deny a girl such a moment..

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Call me Mark willya? 2012/07/13 17:40:54

It is perpetuating a stereotype, but I don’t think it's a big deal.

NO, because if she wanted a "Monster" party I'd give her that istead.

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Katt 2012/07/13 05:37:42

It is perpetuating a stereotype, but I don’t think it's a big deal.

+1
Well princesses are portrayed as mature and proper ladies so I don't see what's wrong with that. And there's a lot of stereotypes around us we all have to learn to be our own person.

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ttfndude 2012/07/13 04:16:29

No, you can’t fight the Princess. It’s genetic!

+1
But I don't argue when she wants to go play soccer or fix a car more power to her but all girls start out loving pretty things...just how they are built

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mandyinabox 2012/07/13 03:06:13

Yes, it teaches our daughters the goal in life is to be rescued by Prince Cha...

+1

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Doc Frank stein 2012/07/13 00:35:13

Yes, it teaches our daughters the goal in life is to be rescued by Prince Cha...

Ooh, Yes!lol
As much as possible!! In fact, I liked both your top and bottom options Ha ha HA HA!!!

There is no more fun in life than the good ol'fashioned Roles tyhat lasted 1000's yrs = why they lasted so long was because they were so good ;)

Except for "the so-called, :Professionals" - a whole otta Whack and Baloney, the real inside instinct is for girls to be so, and likewise the guys! ;)

Let's get rid of the Modern Stereo-type of [nonsense] "empowerment" - it is not human - merely Contrived!! ;)

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NarcolepticGoat 2012/07/12 21:19:34

No, you can’t fight the Princess. It’s genetic!

+1
If that is what the kid wants, by all means, give her the princess stuff. It becomes bad when it is forced on girls and they aren't allowed to like something else.

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Kitsune Touhou 2012/07/12 21:17:33

It is perpetuating a stereotype, but I don’t think it's a big deal.

+3
She's 5. Seriously.

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Mamaknows 2012/07/12 20:55:09

No, you can’t fight the Princess. It’s genetic!

+4
It is just the way most girls are....before my kids I would have said differently BUT I am a kinda a tomboy always have been but do like a bit of girl now and again...when my son came along he is every bit a boy with all the stereo types and then my daughter who is every bit a girly girl and would go for all the stero types given the chance.

We do not allow Barbies or Bratts dolls and what not around...not because of the stero type but because I want her to have a healthy veiw of the human form a respect for her body and what it does for her. We do not want her worried about if she is sexy till she, at the very least is well into her teens....

She is a little mama and desperatly wants her own baby....my kids pray for another baby. She has her own baby doll and has tea for all her stuffed friends. This is not something she has seen from me:) She LOVE bling always have ....I wear my wedding ring and a necklace once in a while so that is not from me. It is all her.

I don't discourage her or my son...I just want them to be kids. To learn their mannors and encourage them both in math and science, reading, empathy, self suffiencey, and discourage rudeness, meanness, and being beligerant.

They are very different people :) That is the way God made them. They are very FUN people an...

It is just the way most girls are....before my kids I would have said differently BUT I am a kinda a tomboy always have been but do like a bit of girl now and again...when my son came along he is every bit a boy with all the stereo types and then my daughter who is every bit a girly girl and would go for all the stero types given the chance.

We do not allow Barbies or Bratts dolls and what not around...not because of the stero type but because I want her to have a healthy veiw of the human form a respect for her body and what it does for her. We do not want her worried about if she is sexy till she, at the very least is well into her teens....

She is a little mama and desperatly wants her own baby....my kids pray for another baby. She has her own baby doll and has tea for all her stuffed friends. This is not something she has seen from me:) She LOVE bling always have ....I wear my wedding ring and a necklace once in a while so that is not from me. It is all her.

I don't discourage her or my son...I just want them to be kids. To learn their mannors and encourage them both in math and science, reading, empathy, self suffiencey, and discourage rudeness, meanness, and being beligerant.

They are very different people :) That is the way God made them. They are very FUN people and I hope and pray to have and few more:)

If my girl wants a princess tea birthday party...I'd give it to her stero types be damned...the same if my son wants his party at the do jo.

But she wants a pony tea party...and he wants a boot camp party...LOL It IS their bday!
(more)

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NeutronBomb 2012/07/12 20:45:40

It is perpetuating a stereotype, but I don’t think it's a big deal.

+1
I think most little girls would choose that option anyway to be honest

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Karl 2012/07/12 20:32:34

No, you can’t fight the Princess. It’s genetic!

+1
Some girls like princesses, and some like sports.

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Mamaknows to Karl 2012/07/12 20:55:50

+1
Some like both...LOL

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Karl to Mamaknows 2012/07/12 21:18:56

+1
Very true.

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Margaret Jacobson 2012/07/12 20:28:42

It is perpetuating a stereotype, but I don’t think it's a big deal.

what about a spiderman, spongebob etc parties ??

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Jacob Torres 2012/07/12 20:27:27

It is perpetuating a stereotype, but I don’t think it's a big deal.

+2
If she wants a princess party, give her a princess party.
Strong girls come in all flavors, from rough-and-tumble tomboys to pretty princesses, to everything in between.

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Bulbasaurus Rex. 2012/07/12 20:21:04

It is perpetuating a stereotype, but I don’t think it's a big deal.

I'd let my children choose what they want their party to be. If my son wanted a princess party, then why not? He can have one.
If my daughter wants a... G.I. Joe or Spiderman themed party, absolutely.

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Shawna 2012/07/12 20:06:42

No, you can’t fight the Princess. It’s genetic!

If the girl likes princesses it would be unkind to ban princess themes. It is best not to make a big deal of anything whether she likes to dress like a boy or like a princess. Just accept her as she is and teach her to value herself. There is nothing wrong with wanting to find prince charming, she just needs to learn that she has value as a person without him and that there should be more to what he finds attractive about her than her looks. So find opportunities to have age appropriate conversations with her.

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sue 2012/07/12 20:02:16

It is perpetuating a stereotype, but I don’t think it's a big deal.

+1
my daughters loved girly things when they were kids, and it did not affect them as adults.

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Thatgirl 2012/07/12 19:41:21

It is perpetuating a stereotype, but I don’t think it's a big deal.

Although if the child is requesting a princess birthday party maybe you should look at the influences shes had and why she wants a "girly" birthday party.

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Vieuphoria 2012/07/12 19:39:57

It is perpetuating a stereotype, but I don’t think it's a big deal.

I wasn't sure which on to pick. It's not genetic in any way. We are taught everything we are, you'd be very foolish to think that we are born to like princess stuff. But gender roles are learned through social interaction, it's not bad, but we should be teaching kids to think for themselves and be accepting of those who don't wish to partake in such gender roles. It's possible to have both.

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☠ Live Free Or Die ☠ 2012/07/12 19:37:45

Yes, it teaches our daughters the goal in life is to be rescued by Prince Cha...

BUT, it should be up to the girl. I always hated theme parties in general as a kid. I just wanted to eat cake and ice cream, pop balloons and tear the house up with my friends. :)

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Weronikus 2012/07/12 19:35:32

It is perpetuating a stereotype, but I don’t think it's a big deal.

It will be her choice wether or not she wants it, anyway. If she's more tomboyish, I would not make her.

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wpsark_BN_0 2012/07/12 19:14:01

It is perpetuating a stereotype, but I don’t think it's a big deal.

little girls like princesses..and so what, let them be little girls.

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TomS 2012/07/12 19:05:07

It is perpetuating a stereotype, but I don’t think it's a big deal.

I picked this answer because it's the only compromise answer available. The truth is, you can do what you want. Your daughter is smart enough to decide to be what she wants. That's true liberation. If she wants to be a princess someday, then she will be whether you throw a party or not. As an aside, if anyone is expecting their children to become what you want them to be, you're in for a big surprise and I'd be surprised that you've forgotten that you exercised your own free will in direct opposition of your own parents. At least, I hope you did.

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Rebellion 2012/07/12 18:13:03

It is perpetuating a stereotype, but I don’t think it's a big deal.

Just a stereotype. I used to be as a girl in all these princess stuff,
I'm friends with boys, I do martial arts and I play basketball.
You can be both a little princess and a little " tramp " hehe.

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S123 2012/07/12 18:10:47

It is perpetuating a stereotype, but I don’t think it's a big deal.

I think it should be the child's decision that the theme should be (unless they want something inappropriate or something like a "Let’s eat lots and lots of candy" party).

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the_old_coach 2012/07/12 17:46:17

It is perpetuating a stereotype, but I don’t think it's a big deal.

+1
Not a big deal. Our children learn what we teach them. My daughter did all the girly things--gymnastics, ballet and modern dance, piano, and cheerleading, but she also wrestled with the boys, played volleyball, basketball, and ran track...and she turned out great.

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dog 2012/07/12 17:45:05

It is perpetuating a stereotype, but I don’t think it's a big deal.

You have to break that habit, I teach my Daughter that being a princess is no good

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Drake 2012/07/12 17:34:57
darlenedoskas1969 2012/07/12 17:26:27

It is perpetuating a stereotype, but I don’t think it's a big deal.

+1
I wish you had another option to choose... I think that little girls will be little girls... I like my little girl to dress up pretty, and buy her clothes to do that with, and she enjoys it too, but she plays in the mud, and wrestles with boys, and rides her bike like a maniac, and is always covered in band-aids for scrapes, and yes, she loves Princesses... for their strengths, as much as their "beauty"

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Nika 2012/07/12 17:06:02

It is perpetuating a stereotype, but I don’t think it's a big deal.

+1
If a girl wants a princess party, let her. If she's not into princesses then throw a themed party of what she does like.

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Lerro DeHazel 2012/07/12 16:37:08

No, you can’t fight the Princess. It’s genetic!

IT CAN DO all kinds of things if you, yourself, are some kind of pervert.

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BlunderWoman ~ FTGOP~ BN 0 2012/07/12 16:31:25

It is perpetuating a stereotype, but I don’t think it's a big deal.

My son was born first, so my daughter had a lot of hand me downs that were yellow, green or blue. I think she was about 6 months old when she started choosing things on her own that were pink. It wouldn't have been my choice, but I've learned to embrace the princess theme.

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2020TRAV 2012/07/12 16:09:02

Yes, it teaches our daughters the goal in life is to be rescued by Prince Cha...

This Mk ultra centric here far asthe princess(DIVA) capture hearts and mind of little girls. To force them into sole depend on system and teach them forsake there inherent rights as to wombman/woman independant sole just mean isolate fishing for themselves; Mother and child who the missing link Father = trying Double duty is tireless work: leaving children learn life from Television maginzine and so forth :

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Sinister Ken Doll™ 2012/07/12 16:04:53 (edited)
the fuze 2012/07/12 15:59:18

No, you can’t fight the Princess. It’s genetic!

+3
But I know lots of little girls that would have nothing to do with princesses, so whatever... if your kid wants a princess party, throw her a princess party.

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budgerigar42 2012/07/12 15:59:02

It is perpetuating a stereotype, but I don’t think it's a big deal.

A lot of girls do like pink and sparklies when they're young, though. I mean, I don't think they would care too much, really. But if you're still doing it when the girl is like, sixteen, then it can be a little offensive.

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