The “Princess Industrial Complex”…Who Knew!

Chances are, if you see a little girl dressed up in a princess costume, she is probably between 3-5 years old. That was certainly true for my daughter! At age 3, she received a blue Cinderella princess dress for her birthday and literally LIVED in it until the dress became tattered rags 2 years later. (Yes, I was THAT mom toting my little princess down the grocery store aisles in full garb). The fun thing about my daughter is that even though she was dressed up as a princess, she could quickly abandon the stereotypical princess mannerisms to play rough and tumble pirate games with her older brother, who at age 5 lived in his pirate costume. Watching them play together inspired my newly published children’s book, “Princesses Can Be Pirates Too!” (Illustrated by artist Amy Davis, and published by Booktrope -now available on Amazon.com).

Well, a funny thing happened after I wrote “Princesses Can Be Pirates Too!” and started identifying my target markets. I was told about a movement called the “Princess Industrial Complex.” “What is THAT?” you ask. Well, so did I!

I came to learn that the Princess Industrial Complex describes a phenomenon where there is a preponderance of merchandising and marketing products aimed at little girls (most notably “Barbie & Disney Princesses”) that is said to breed an unhealthy obsession with fluffy dresses, tiaras, pageants, and anything related to princesses; other girl stereotyping toys; and character behavior expectations-all of which pigeonhole girls into gender stereotypes and identities.

The main argument of the Princess Industrial Complex is that girls should be brought up “gender neutral” and wearing pink dismantles that neutrality. My position? Why should a girl be deprived of pink? Why can’t a girl be both a princess and also identify with toys, games, and make-believe play that are typically assigned to boy stereotypes? Must she shed her princess dress to do so? No-a girl identifying herself as a “princess” can be anything she wants to be, not confined or defined by her pink fluffy dress, but rather by her capabilities. Case in point?-my daughter and her book character…

Who says girls can’t play boys’ make-believe games too? “No Girls Allowed,” will simply NOT do for this little Princess! “Princesses Can Be Pirates Too!” proves that just because a girl is wearing a pink fluffy dress and gold crown doesn’t mean she can’t act like a pirate just as good as any boy. Yes- even a refined and dainty princess can become a rough and tumble pirate! STORY SNEAK PEEK: “A princess can do what a pirate can too; she can captain a ship and take charge of the crew”… “Should unfriendly pirates try climbing aboard? She can fend off the foes with a swoosh of her sword…!” “She can eat with her fingers and slurp down her stew-BURP-if pirates eat messily a princess can too!” are just a few of the things this feisty princess can do in this humorous interpretation and approach to a pirate’s life with a princess’ sense of style.

My daughter is now 7 years old and her tattered Cinderella dress is neatly tucked away in her closet. She prefers to wear jeans, t-shirts, sneakers, and hats over dresses any day. Was her identity held hostage to the Princess Industrial Complex as some would believe because she wore a princess dress for 3 years? Not at all. Rather, I believe she inspired an empowering message for girls that it is acceptable and healthy to break out of gender roles-even if dressed in a Cinderella costume. Girls Can’t What? I say, Oh YES THEY CAN!

A Seattle native, Christi draws inspiration for her book ideas from several typical parenting routines; watching her children play or argue, overhearing them sing or talk while driving in the car, and listening to all the amazing ideas, concerns, & questions that come up at bedtime. Princesses Can Be Pirates Too is the first, but her children have inspired many more literary surprises already in the works!

Find Christi:
Blog: www.christizellerhoff.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/christizellerhoffauthor
Email: Christi@christizellerhoff.com
Purchase “Princesses Can Be Pirates Too!” at Amazon.com

Find Illustrator Amy Davis: 
Blog: www.creativecockamamy.com 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amydavisillustrator 
Email: amy@creativecockamamy.com