Unhappy dad seeking feminist advice

[UnimaginitiveDadThemedUsername]

"We're princesses. We like dressing up and shopping."

Had a friend's daughter stay over this Saturday with our DD (both 3 1/2), and this is what we heard for most of the day from the two of them. This is pretty much the straw that is breaking the camel's back (even more so than the pink toy washing machine given to us by my mother-in-law when I wasn't there).

My question is this - how hard am I going to have to fight so DD grows up to realise that she is a person in her own right and not someone else's chattel or arm candy? I'm wondering if it's a lost cause.
Ironically, I feel that my efforts are and will continue to be sabotaged by women who know nothing else (see washing machine incident above). I mention stuff in a non-confrontational way to female members of the family and feel like they don't take me seriously.

Any practical suggestions? Or should I stop worrying?

Just by reading your OP, you seem to be a feminst man yourself. That's great to see! And faminism seems such a bad word these days.

I think there's a lot of pressure on little girls these days to be princesses, wear and buy everything pink, and the message seems to be: wait in your meringue dress for your prince to come and make you happy. Unfortunately, two things might happen. If they get an education and are serious about their work and careers, the fairtale wil prove to be just that. Real life, something not quite so "rosy".

If they never dare leave the house and domestic related arena, and manage to find a "rich husband", they can continue in their pink dresses living the fairtale until they die.

Hard choice for a parent to decide which one you would prefer. It's up to you and your partner which values you will install in them. If you push them towards being educated and independant, they will be so no matter how much pink dresses they wear or pink castles they buy!