Andre Guy
Mr.Zumer-W131
16 March 2015
Comparative Critique Paper
Comparative Critique of Personal is Political: A Feminist Defense of Cinderella and Cinderella and Princess Culture Shoshanna R. Schechter is also a strong feminist who in turn doesn’t believe the princess culture is bad for girls but is a stage that they go through. Peggy Orenstein is a feminist who believes little girls that believe in the princess culture and enjoy dressing up and pretending to be princesses are falling into gender stereotypes at a very young age. Orenstein, in her article seems to go through a journey, in which, she comes to this conclusion. Both Schechter and Orenstein are well known feminist who share almost exact opposite views on the princess culture idea and how it affects young women and children. Although Schechter and Orenstein seem to share these similar feministic views on princess culture, it may seem to be that Schechter carries a more liberal, open minded view on princess culture and Orenstein has a more radical closed minded view on princess culture. Schechter begins by talking about her trip to Disney World with her three daughters, who are seven, four and four, and her husband. The trip was planned especially for her three daughters which meant as much princess exposure as possible and as Schechter states, it consisted of “The girls packed their favorite princess costumes, and agonized every morning regarding which costume they would wear to the parks. We stood in lengthy lines to meet princesses, we watched princess shows, we ate at a special princess character dinner, and I even saved up all of my Disney credit card points for the princess make-overs at the “Bibbiddi Bobbidi Boutique” in Cinderella’s castle” (Schechter 1) Schechter talks about how all her friends are feminist who despise the princess culture and do not want their daughters to even come in contact with it and she gives us an example of her friends post on Facebook in which her friend was frustrated at how the caretakers at her newborn’s childcare center referred to her 6 week old daughter as a princess. She continues with saying how she finds it interesting how the “Disney Princess machine” is only getting stronger with each generation but comes back with the fact of the girls who are engaged in this “Disney Princess machine” are children of educated and high-ranking professional women. “These are girls who are growing up in a world of female doctors, lawyers, clergy, legislators, etc. Yet, they still fantasize about wearing a ball gown and being swept off their feet.” (Schechter 1) She says she encourages and embraces the princess culture because being a feminist isn’t about a totally rejection of being a traditional girl. And that if there is a complete and total reject princess culture, that they limit their daughters from a full exploration of their gender and femininity. So Schechter believes that the princess culture is a part of the a girl’s life and if you try to take that away you are not giving them the chance to see their whole gender opportunity which exactly what feminist are fighting for. So why would someone like Orenstein be against the princess culture? Orenstein starts her story talking about whenever she goes out with her three year old daughter she is referred to as princess and gets other stereotypical girl greetings. She then talks about at the dentist office when she snapped because dentist said “Would you like to sit in my special princes throne so I can sparkle your teeth?” After Orenstein’s little tangent, her daughter says “Why are you so mad, Mama? What’s wrong with princesses?” Orenstein’s response to that is seen very thoroughly in her article. Orenstein continues with “I watch my fellow mothers, women who once swore they’d never be dependent on a man, smile indulgently at daughters who warble “So This is Love” or insist on being called Snow White.” (Orenstein 671) Orenstein leaves this vibe that she believes the
