Princess Culture

The twenty-first century has transformed from traditional customs to more liberal ideas. One example is the view of Cinderella and how she may be detrimental to young females or how she can be molded to society’s view and become empowered. Critic from Time magazine and author of “The Princess Paradox,” James Poniewozik discusses how the idea of princesses can be powerful or harmful to the adolescent women of today. He emphasizes Hollywood’s version of Cinderella in real life portrayals and suggests that there are quite a few princesses in existence who are strong and self-determined and not weak and helpless. Like Poniewozik, Peggy Orenstein examines roles of princesses; however, she does so in a different light. Self-proclaimed feminist and author of “Cinderella and Princess Culture,” Orenstein describes how as a mother of the Grranimals era she is struggling with her daughter growing up in the princess world (671). The author points out many different aspects of the princess culture that she fears may be more than a craze, such as Club Libby Lu, the princess franchise, and animated movies of Disney princesses. Although both authors agree that princesses may be just a phase, Orenstein fears from a mothers’ perspective that princesses are a negative role model, whereas Poniewozik describes from a critic’s point of view that princess could potentially do no harm.
The lens each writer uses to view the issue is markedly different. Orenstein begins with an emotional appeal to her readers while claiming that her daughter’s innocence with princesses may be detrimental, but then again it could be just a phase such as that which boys go through with Power Rangers and Legos. Poniewozik also claims that all children, not only young girls, endure phases in their youth and outgrow them. However, though the same general idea, each author expresses their views from different sides; Poniewozik uses a critic’s perspective and Orenstein approaches the topic as a

Cited: Orenstein, Peggy. “Cinderella and Princess Culture.” Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum. 11th Ed. Eds., Laurence Behrens and Leonard J. Rosen. New York: Longman, 2011. 670-673. Print. Poniewozik, James. “The Princess Paradox.” Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum. 11th Ed. Eds., Laurence Behrens and Leonard J. Rosen. New York: Longman, 2011. 666-669. Print.