The Princess Paradox Analysis

In the short essay, “The Princess Paradox,” James Poniewozik, whos is the chief TV critic for The New York Times, introduces the idea that parents have recently tried to stay away from giving their daughters princess related toys and clothes, contrasting a girly stereotype, and instead, give them a more wide variety of toys, including the ones associated with boy’s stereotypes such as legos, from which she can choose from and determine her own interests. Additionally, Poniewozik states that parents get frustrated when their “empowered, self-confident budding Marie Curie tells you [the parent] she wants to be… a princess [for halloween]” (Poniewozik). According to Poniewozik, past princess culture implies that being both a princess and self-determined

Poniewozik focuses on the movie industry in which she describes many fairy tale movies to be rather popular among both parents and daughters even though they are aware of the importance of being a strong, self-determined woman. Poniewozik states that, “Hollywood is discovering that it still pays not to fight the royal urge. Following 2001’s $108 million - grossing The Princess Diaries” (Poniewozik). On the other hand, Orenstein focuses on the profits of the products sold as a result of the princess movies. Orenstein describes a new chain of mall stores called Club Libby Lu in which “girls ages 4 to 12 can shop for ‘Princess Phones’ covered faux fur and attend ‘Princess-Makeover Birthday Parties’. Saks bought Club Libby Lu in 2003 for $12 million and has since expanded it to 87 outlets… revenues hovered around the $46 million mark… Pink, it seems, is the new gold” (Orenstein). Both texts show that although princess culture may not be the most effective way to educate young children, data shows that it is the most favorable among children and parents even being aware of the harmful effects of the idea of perfection on one’s