AIBU princess parties is this what we are inspiring our girls to be ?

[bottleitsellit]

Just been to a Princess birthday party, my first one. So a women acts as your princess of choice with the wig and outfit and runs the party games instead of the parents. I just feel so sad about how all the girls were gushing over it. I suppose I wasn't brought up with princesses as my mum was very much a tomboy and I have lots of older brothers. My girls have fairies, witches amongst their toys just as my DS has dragons, Harry Potter, but we have really haven't gone with princesses as it's a bit old fashioned, a knight on a horse saving you. Maybe it's just me, they will prob now want princess everything 😬

Complete YABU. My new thoughts are that kids like what they like; if you want to politicise it you can make children's lives miserable.

If my son likes princesses I wouldn't deny him a princess party, so I wouldn't stop my daughter having one. Keep them exposed to lots of interests, but let them enjoy what they like guilt free.

YABU

it'll be their favourite character from a film/favourite film, just like your DS will have a favourite character in Harry Potter?

I thought you were going to say it was the girls getting their hair and make up done to look like princesses at the local beauty salon. That was a thing at some point...

Moana... goes on a mission to save her tribe and village
Elsa and Anna... save their kingdom

The princesses are quite feisty these days.

YABU
We went to a party like that a few years ago. 'Elsa' hosted the games and everything. It was great fun, the boys and girls alike dressed up and enjoyed it.
My daughter absolutely loved it. She loves anything princess, Frozen or generally Disney themed. She also plays on a girls football team and kicks her brothers' butts on game consoles 🤷‍♀️ it's possible that you can be a well rounded human and enjoy the occasional princess party. Shocker.

We are aspiring to teach our children to be anything they want to be. Nothing wrong with a princess party if that’s what the child likes 🙄

yabu...think you are over thinking and a bit 'try too hard' here

if kids love it then thats what matters

The princess phase doesn't last long; I did hate the parties though!

Kids like what they like and you just have to let the get on with it.

Lots of people gush about boys in princess dresses, but judge girls. Same as wearing pink.

Yabu. You feel sad children are enjoying themselves?
Its just make believe ffs.

Lighten up - it's a party.

YABU

I was a tomboy. I still don't look down at girls enjoying princesses....

Yabu. Princesses is just a theme for a birthday party, it’s not a small child’s careers convention where they’re thinking about what they aspire to be when they grow up.

She really won't be moulded for life by attending a few princess parties as a little girl. In my experience, this type of party is passé by about age six in favour of more active sports type things.

When DDs were 5&7 they were chosen to dress up as Princesses in the Disney land parade (one family chosen at random each day) After 10 minutes my younger DD claimed she never wanted to be a real princess as the waving was too boring and tiring.

We spend a lot of time teaching our daughters they can be whoever they want to be. One party isn't going to force them to dream about being a princess forever.

I suppose I'm just shocked how much Disney is still an influence. We have tried to watch Frozen, but neither DD's haven't warmed to it, DS watched it a bit, he liked the snowman. They haven't seen any of the older classic Disney princess films. We do have fairytale books sleeping beauty, Cinderella, Rapunzal ? Sp? but but they've just never taken to them. We must be in the minority then?

Your OP appears to suggest that being a 'tom boy'' and having older brothers and no princesses is in some way superior? You feel sad that little girls loved seeing their favourite character at a birthday party? But being brought up liking 'boy' things is ok is it?
Princesses are no longer saved by a man, they hold their own. They can be characters to aspire to. Regardless, let little kids enjoy being little kids. It's over too quickly as it is.

I think it’s fine
I am however a bit at the princess parties I’m aware of where at age 6 they go to a salon and have their nails/make up/whatever “done” then have photos done for “insta”.
No one needs to be pushed into that sort of nonsense age 6.

Sooooo an adult putting on a costume, wig and makeup to play as an entertainer, you mean like a clown?? Are those unacceptable as well? ;)

@HawksAreRed

The princess phase doesn't last long; I did hate the parties though!

Kids like what they like and you just have to let the get on with it.

Lots of people gush about boys in princess dresses, but judge girls. Same as wearing pink.

Friend of mine is hell bent to dismantling gender stereotypes for her toddler son. He wears pink and dresses more often than not. I think her intentions are good but I'm not sure she's being balanced about it.

Yabu it's a kids party. Chill out

Did it stipulate it was a ‘princess party’ on the invite? If so and you have such strong opinions then maybe you shouldn’t have taken them?

My Dd had Elsa come to her birthday once. There were princess dresses for everyone. One little girl didn't want to be a princess so she got a spiderman suit instead

DS (5) loves Frozen. Frozen and dinosaurs were his party themes. We didn’t make everyone dress like that but provided costumes and it went down a storm. His class loved it anyway.

Just let people like what they like. What’s wrong with liking princesses?

The princess is leading the party and the games, she's not sitting around passively being useless. She's the mistress of ceremonies. And none of it is for men.

It is of course fine not to like pretty dresses and crowns. But rather than telling girls they're not allowed to like these things, why not tell them they can like these things, for themselves, and still do other kick ass stuff?