Princess Complex-what does it mean?
Orenstein Book Reveiws
I heard from somewhere that there was actually a "princess complex". I thought that meant that girls who are exposed to too many barbie dolls and princesses become obsessed with their looks. As I researched I discovered that the "princess industrial complex" actually refers to the billions of "princess" and "barbie" merchandise that overflows the stores. There isn't even a real psychological complex associated with this. The princess complex is all about the pageants, but it's also about Miley Cyrus and Bratz. What girls want to dress like them? Peggy Orenstein writes about this in her book Cinderella Ate My Daughter. She talks about the sexaulization of little girls and how young girls who are exposed to all the propaganda will become "whores." although I agree with a lot of what she says, I think it's okay for them in small doses. It's natural for a daughter of my age to love the Disney princess and want to constantly be one, really who wouldn't? This kind of play is normal and lets them stretch their imagination. As long as she isn't obsessing over Miley Cyrus, I think she'll be okay.
Becca is my everything, my one daughter. Becca has a loving family surrounding her on all sides, including an extremely caring fourteen year old brother. Even though she has plenty of cousins for playmates, her princess-like qualities shine through.
To describe my daughter, I only need to say one word:princess. This seems to describe her clearly. She is the typical doll who always gets her way by using her good looks and charm. As you can see from this photograph, she had the pouty face down at age 1. She uses her expressions well to her advantage, especially with her daddy.
Is this normal?
What I really wanted to know was how her obsession would affect her in the long run. Would her love for Cinderella cause problems with her sexuality? I definitely don't believe that. The only thing I really have to worry about is how spoiled she will become. She already thinks of herself as a princess, will this continue? Will she be one of those girls who thinks she's better than anyone else? Or will she become obsessed with her looks? When I think of the princess complex, that's a big part of it. The media seems to have a power over young girls that make them believe that if they don't have the "barbie" look, then they are worth nothing. I know my daughter doesn't have to worry about her looks, but sometimes no matter what, girls will believe the worst of themselves.
Some more research has to be done on this subject, so I will have to update this!