Princess Paradox By James Poniewozik Summary

In the article “Princess Paradox” author James Poniewozik begins with a theoretical situation of a parents nightmare by offering the idea that people should not get on board with the current princess craze, which is little girls being given girly items, he then creates a contrast by stating that women can succeed with their own personal future intentions, and goals. Whereas Peggy Orenstein, author of “Cinderella and Princess Culture”, immediately proposes from her own standpoint that the princess movement is detrimental to young girls, claiming that it will brainwash them into becoming someone they are not destined to be, which is ultimately what they see fit for themselves to strive to be. In both articles, the authors validate how pink

He begins to say, “You give your daughter legos and soccer balls, not barbies” (323). Poniewozik proceeds to argue his point by explaining how Hollywood finally discovered that it is pointless to fight the urge of the astonishing pink princess epidemic, while producing many more princess themed items because it is what girls seem to want. Similarly, Peggy Orenstein opens with a story about a mother who is simply appalled by anything and everything princess based on how her daughter gets treated by other adults. However, Orenstein tried to keep a consistent theme of not accepting the whole idea of being picture perfect throughout the article, but while making an argument, she would then come up with a contrasting argument. The question of, “Does every little girl really have to be a princess?”(Orenstein 326), arises when thinking about all of the times how even strangers assume little girls always want pink. Orenstein realizes the overall meaning of what princess means needs to be seen as someone who has character and someone who people can look up to, instead of just thinking about fitting in and looking in a certain way,

As the word princess comes to mind, people associate that with someone compliant and portraying someone perfect. In the refinement process of the word princess, Poniewozik puts forth the idea that, “She should be pretty, but in a class-president way, not a head-cheerleader way”(325). He is stating how the perfect princess picture every girl looks up to should be someone who is intelligent and a leader, not just nice looking. Poniewozik does this by highlighting the fact that girls should be able to stand up for themselves, and speak upon what they desire, whatever that may be for