Let’s set the record straight—if your daughter dreams of being a princess, that’s perfectly fine! Go ahead and buy her the tiaras, help her with dress-up, and indulge in all those fun fantasy games. But the concern arises when being a princess is viewed as one of the few options available. It’s essential for our daughters to understand that they have a world of possibilities beyond royal titles.
As mom Sarah Johnson shared with a parenting blog, “Being a princess isn’t really a job you can aspire to; it’s more of an adjective we use for girls. I’d prefer to offer them a range of empowering descriptors.” To support this vision, Johnson launched a website titled “I Don’t Want To Be A Princess”, which showcases stories from inspiring women across various careers and sells t-shirts emblazoned with empowering adjectives that stray from the royal theme.
The inspiration for this venture came during a visit to Disney World in 2013, when her then 5-year-old daughter Mia expressed her frustration at being labeled a princess all day long. “Mommy, this is so irritating. I don’t want to be a princess. I want to be an astronaut!” she said. The website went live shortly after, on April 11.
Johnson clarifies that she has nothing against princesses; rather, she felt that girls who aren’t into that theme deserve better representation. “I’m not criticizing those who want to be princesses. Instead, as a mother of a girl who prefers other ambitions, I noticed a lack of alternatives. I want to empower all girls to pursue their true passions.”
Any parent who has searched for costumes knows that princesses dominate the market, and even non-princess themed outfits for girls are often made to look cute and feminine. Society tends to emphasize adorableness, and the princess narrative is just another layer of that.
In addition to t-shirts featuring words like “brave,” “imaginative,” and “fearless,” Johnson’s website offers insightful information about remarkable women such as Harriet Tubman, Malala Yousafzai, and Ada Lovelace. It also highlights stories of “real” girls, like Emma Carter, who is the only girl on her school’s wrestling team.
The t-shirts available on the site boast words like “incredible,” “confident,” “creative,” and “strong”—qualities every parent would love to see associated with their daughter, and traits that many girls embody today. Unfortunately, the pervasive princess culture, fueled by Disney’s iconic princesses, often leads to the assumption that all girls share that aspiration.
But here’s the truth: not all girls want that!
It’s completely fine if a little girl has dreams of being a princess; as life unfolds, she may realize it’s not a sustainable career path and will find her true calling. It becomes limiting, however, when strangers consistently refer to her as “princess” as a default label.
I have a daughter who enjoys princesses and also has a passion for sports and science. We’ve always nurtured her interests, including her whimsical princess phase. As she grows, it’s clear that her focus lies more with athletics and medicine. She has been determined since preschool to become a veterinarian, and we couldn’t be more supportive. That “incredible” shirt would suit her perfectly! But if she wants to wear her princess outfits while exploring her ambitions, that’s just fine too.
The key is she has choices, and she always will.
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In summary, it’s vital to encourage girls to recognize that their potential extends far beyond the notion of being a princess. We must empower them with diverse role models and support their unique aspirations, whatever they may be.