Not Your Average Princess

Posted by The Q on February 12th, 2009

Little girls are indoctrinated into Princess Culture before they can even speak in full sentences.  Pictures of doe-eyed Cinderellas and Sleeping Beauties adorn everything from plates and cups to clothing and shoes.  In fact, Disney’s Princesses marketing campaign is considered one of the most successful in the history of the company–and in the marketing industry.  These graceful beauties are impossible to escape no matter where you shop.

But every princess story (with rare exception) is based on a plot of victimization and rescue.  Princesses wait, either passively as in the case of Sleeping Beauty and Snow White; or miserably as in the case of Cinderella; for someone to rescue them and make their ‘dreams come true’.  And that someone is always a prince.

These princesses may have different hairstyles and costumes, but they all have one thing in common:  They are pretty and charming.  Often their prince falls in love with them without them even speaking a word.  Such is the power of beauty.  It brings love.

The result of this indoctrination are a generation of young women who are obsessed with their appearances and who are taught that being loved is directly related to how pretty they are.  The American Psychological Association is just one of many groups who have raised red flags about the sexualization of girls and the self-image problems that contribute to eating disorders, depression, and low self-esteem.

This disturbing trend did not escape the notice of a Susan Johnston, a single woman in her late thirties who had been in more than 17 wedding parties.  Johnston was a happy, well-traveled, educated woman who was shocked at how many young girls told her that they could not be a princess without a prince.

“When I was growing up, I watched shows like Wonder Woman and Charlie’s Angels.  Those women were out there saving people, not passively waiting to be rescued,” Johnston revealed in an interview.

Together with her friend Kimberly Webb, Johnston developed the character of Princess Bubble, “a well-employed, globe-trotting, good-friend, good-date, helpful-neighbor princess who is confused by the traditional fairy tale message that implies she must find her ‘prince’ before she can live ‘happily ever after.’”

She took the advice of her mom and joined www.FindYourPrince.com. With her mind in a fog, she even kissed a frog! All the princeless princesses had long talks about where their princes could be. But, Bubble did not believe just any prince would bring her “happily ever after.” Yet the fairy tales said she must find HER prince!

The message of Princess Bubble is not anti-marriage, nor does it discourage girls from wanting to look beautiful.  What the book does do, however, is address the motivations and reasons for getting married and looking beautiful.  “Marriage can’t be the dream,” Johnston said, “It is a way to share your dream with someone special.”  Johnston herself became engaged in her early forties, long after Disney’s 16-year-old Ariel found true love.  “I really made Princess Bubble as a better version of me.  She wants to help others and make a difference in the world.   That’s what true princesses do.  Princess Diana–more remembered for helping than being waited on.  Being a princess is not not just sitting on a throne and having a crown.”

Another dimension to Princess Bubble is that unlike any other princess, she has faith.  Johnston and Webb, both Christians, wrote the book from the perspective of a woman who believes God plays an active role in their lives. Those who have belief in a higher power agree that no one–not even a single woman in her 30’s–is alone when they have faith.

Johnston and Webb financed the book themselves because they believe so strongly in the message of Princess Bubble.  The response has been phenomenal.    “We’ve had countless women all over the nation tell us they wish there had been a book like this when they were little.  In fact, many of the mothers who bought this book for their daughters tell us that the book has helped them re-evaluate their own marriage and what it means to them.”

The book is written with wit and verve; the illustrations are fun and colorful; and Princess Bubble is a beautiful woman inside and out.  If you are a parent or grandparent, consider getting this book for your own little princess and encourage her to be more than just a pretty face.

Princess Bubble is available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and at local retailers nationwide.

In 2003, breast implants tripled from 3,872 to 11,326 in girls under age 18.

Girls ages 12 to 19 spent over $8 million on cosmetics in 2005.

(Source: Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls,2007)

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