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

It doesn't but SOME people don't care as much about selfdetermination as they do about conforming to their ideology.

So you'd support a boy who wanted a princess party as well?

You've obviously never met me or my son.

It just depends on the person. I did not like them as a child ;-)

Actually, our 12 tr old is a cage fighter. "Penelope the Punisher".

I do not think so, because growing up my dad and mom use to always call me their little princess. But that also taught me that just because I was called a little princess, that it is not okay to act like or to assure that everything would be done for you. All girls think that they are princesses anyway when they are little, so I really dont think that it is that serious. Its all about sitting down and making sure that they understand they even princesses have real jobs and issues like everyone else.

I happen to love Princesses and I think this question is silly! What if she likes princesses, so what? Does that automatically mean she will be docile and helpless? It just means she happens to like princesses.

Most little girls like princesses and girly things. And it's ok if they don't. But I wouldn't try to divert my daughters attention to something else, if princesses is what she really likes. Let kids be into whatever catches their attention, it's going to change many times over the years. I have a 4 year old daughter and it's all princesses and fairies and ponies and Barbies. I'm not going to make her pretend her Barbies are soldiers or wrestlers just to make it less stereotypical unless that's how she wants to play it. And as I'm writing this she came up and pointed to the princess and crown, just to back it up, lol !My 6 year old boy is into superheroes and video games and your stereotypical boy stuff, but he'll play Barbies with his sister too. When kids act different from the "norm" people say "just let them be themselves" and it works both ways. Let them be themselves when they're stereotypical girls and boys as well.

But if you're throwing your son a prince party, there's something wrong with you :)

Have more open answers. :P It is if your daughter never asked for one or never showed signs of being girly or wanting that type of party, then yes. But its not really that big.

How about "Other"? I don't think it's perpetuating a sereotype, but I do think it encourages narcissim.

I would have a BIG problem if you threw your SON a princess party. That promotes gender confusion. News Flash: Boys and girls are DIFFERENT. Not better or worse, but different.

What if he likes it?

I'd say hooray for you if the boy wanted a princess party and you threw one for him. As long as every party has a different theme I don't see the problem.

I love both :-C

It sometimes can be a big deal and cause a lot of grief. For others, it's just a party theme. It depends on how well we teach our children to think and process emotions.

I think that if you let a little girl chose between a princess party or any other theme that is not feminine, she will most likely pick the princess party

Wrong. If you'd asked me if I wanted a cat party, alien party or a princess party I definitely wouldn't choose a boring princess party. You're not even female- how do you know what all girls like?

..... How old are you??...

Older than you. I meant when I was a little girl.

oh I got you... if you noticed I said she "most likely", I wasn't referring to every girl just most

You left out that they could be a "prince" as well.

It's harmless, I was never into it but I noticed a lot of people were. Luckily a lot of people grow out of it. It's just how society expects us to grow up.

Our genetic code is predetermined. It is important that you present the fact that, that being a princess is fairy tale talk. In real life she is still expected to take care of herself. Explain to her that all princess, still did what they had to do. Snow White whistled while she worked. Cinderella scrubbed the floor, and Sleeping Beauty, hiked through the forest, but there is nothing wrong with taking a more feminine stance to our womanhood.

Girly, Girl does NOT equate with damsel in distress. I am as girly a girl as there is... However, I am financially independent. Spiritually strong... And I can defend myself better than most. So I paint my toenails before I shove my foot up someone's @$$. So I bleach the wall after I kill a flying insect. So my tools and tool boxes are a sunny, feminine yellow. The hammer still hangs my pictures, and though my lips are glossed and lined to perfection... They still form just the right sounds when I am sticking up for myself and making my own way in the world.

Thanks for letting her choose her own path and supporting it. You're saving her lots of money and time on a therapist couch. Being a sporty type isn't for everyone, and that is all right.

I agree....I am a girly girl too and I do not find anything wrong with it.

There is nothing wrong with a girly-girl; but I guess it depends upon what kind of princes you exhault. The one in Brave, is strong on her own. She doesn't need a man to save her. She doesn't need or want a prince-charming. If you glorify strength and courage, which are NOT necessarily masculine traits; that's good. But if you promote Cinderella and Snow White, and other, frankly weak "princeses", it does perpetuate the stereotype that a woman needs a man to save her. Every girl wants to be treated well, and should. But that doesn't have to involve 100% dependence upon others, nor should it.

Well, I don't think it's genetic but this was the closest answer.

My oldest granddaughter was princess crazy when she was little. No one pushed her to it. She has always been very girly and prissy. That is just her personality.

The younger liked Tinkerbell, technically not a princess but still girly. This was back before they sanitized Tinkerbell and she was still an imp with an attitude. She identified with that as she is all attitude and fears nothing. She isn't so crazy about the "nice" Tinkerbell.

My niece never liked the princess stuff. She is all about horses and has been her entire life.

Regardless, there is nothing wrong with gender differences and preferences. What is important is what you teach them about self-esteem, independence and morals.

Little girls are princesses and they will grow up to be goddesses. Not sure what the problem is.

Nothing, as long as that doesn't mean they grow up thinking that prince charming will save them from all of their worries. Girls should have high self-esteem, but it should be based upon high competence, and achievement. They shouldn't think that by virtue of BEING a girl, that everything should be handed to them.

Ah, but there are no real prince charmings.......just set the girls straight about men and they won't be disillusioned.

The real Prince Charmings, are the ones who want a woman who can stand on her own feet. They're the ones we respect.

You betcha. We know that to be PC nowdays women have to be self sufficient and practically support their Prince Charmings. Let the little ones pretend they are princesses. It beats them playing violent video games and being connected to techno gadgets. LIfes lessons come swift and hard.

That they do. How old is yours?

32 and my granddaughters (aka princesses) are 18 months and 5

Mine is 11

And is she not a princess??

I have sons, and I threw sports-themed parties, Jedi knights and Legos. I would rather say as a parent, I encouraged and molded my sons toun a fashion conducive to male interest. Their father plays a strong role in the boys' lives, introducing them to fishing and guns.

People yearn to be loved and to love someone that understands them and that they feel is perfect for them. It doesn't matter in what shape or form it comes in. Let girls dream and be girls . They'll grow up soon enough.

But you so seem more concerned with advertising your party business.

I am posting these polls hoping to find new users for my site, but I am also working hard to write fun relevant questions because I love sodahead!