Happy Halloween everyone! I hope that everyone has a safe and fun filled Halloween!
This year for Halloween Annabelle wanted to be a princess. The fact that she wasn’t going to be a cat, again, made me quite happy. I also was really excited to be able to make her costume. I have fond memories of my mom making my Halloween costumes, and I hope to do the same for Annabelle.
But, this post isn’t so much about that. It’s about the fact that my daughter wanted to be Cinderella for Halloween, and you know what?
There is nothing wrong with that.
This year, princess have been bumped to the #2 spot on the costume list, with #1 being super heroes. Am I upset that princess aren’t number one? Not at all. Do I think that all girls should want to be princesses for Halloween? Nope. Do I think society seems to pressure girls into not choosing to be a princess? Yes. And, do I think that’s ok? No.
Today, it seems that more and more girls are being called out for wanting to be a princess. As if there is something just so wrong about it. Just the other day I saw a picture of a bunch of girls, all were princesses and one was batman. The caption read something like “be a batman among princesses”. In another article I read about how a child wanted to be a princess, but the parent talked them into being something else. In yet another article I read about how more girls are choosing not to be princesses, and how great it is.
Folks, this is starting to make me upset. Once again, it’s not that girls aren’t being princesses. I love seeing all sorts of costumes, because how boring would a whole world of princesses be? What’s upsetting is that society is making it seem like being a princess is bad thing. Like, if a girl wants to be a princess that must mean she only wants to be adored, and has no ambition in her life.
Why is it wrong for a little girl (or boy) to want to dress up as a princess? When was it decided that girls needed to chose something or someone strong to be? What can’t one be a princess and still be strong?
I get that girls need see themselves represented in all career choices. The fact that they have “girl” and “boy” scientist costumes is ridiculous. A scientist is a scientist. I understand wanting to teach our girls that they are strong and capable. We have everyday to this folks. Everyday we should be encouraging our girls children to do their best. Everyday we should be encouraging them and challenging them. Everyday we should be talking to them. It shouldn’t be limited to Halloween. So let your little girl (or boy) be what they want for Halloween, be it a princess, superhero, or hot dog.