Summary of "The Princess Paradox"

In "The Princess Paradox" James Poniewozik suggests that being a princess is much different now than it used to be. But many daughters will always want to be princesses, no matter how much the idea of "princess" has changed over the years. Poniewozik starts his article off by stating that people often try to keep their girls from wanting to become princesses. But in the end they always will want to. Poniewozik states that girls used to want to be a princess with a pampered life. But to him this wasn't what princesses want anymore. They don't want help when they're in trouble, some of them go looking for trouble. No need for a prince to come save them, they can do it on their own. In fact, Poniewozik says that the princesses would much rather "save Prince Charming, thank you" (324), because they feel as though they can be independent and confident in life on their own. They don't always need a prince charming, unless they chose to have one. After he writes about tough, no-worries princesses, he goes on to state that princesses could finally have found a happy medium. Contemporary writers now say that today's Cinderella would have to be attractive but still be able to make the honor roll. The Cinderella story doesn't have to be all love and affection between the Prince and the Princess, and the Princess does not always have to be saved by the prince. He thinks the princesses don't always need to prove themselves worthy of being a princess, the position must prove itself to the