Not God’s Little Princess
Today I was shopping for Christmas presents when I came across a popular Christian product line for children. Books, videos, even Bible story books presented in two forms: a pink “God’s Little Princess” line for girls, and a blue “God’s Mighty Warrior” line for boys.
I am not opposed to princess-play for girls. My two oldest daughters love to don frilly dresses and parade around as princesses. Of course, they will transform in a moment into Robin Hood and Little John or Peter Pan and Captain Hook, or even some mixed up combination. Their princesses are often unpredictable hybrids, wearing crowns while scaling the rigging of a pirate ship.
I understand wanting to appeal to little girls’ fascination with princesses, and the desire to convey a spiritual message, but I am troubled by this gendered approach to Christian children’s books. The metaphor of princess and warrior convey very different messages. A princess is cherished but passive; a warrior is actively prepared for battle. The opening book in the series, Gigi, God’s Little Princess, redefines Gigi’s princess aspirations only by extending it to other little girls, saying they are all princesses because their father is God, the king of kings. It does not address the passivity of the metaphor itself.
I am troubled by this for reasons I have mentioned before. The mixture of metaphors used in this series occur in scripture - God as king, God’s worshipers as his children, and the Christian faithful as warriors engaged in the spiritual battle between good and evil - but not with the same emphases. We are God’s children, meaning we are loved. God is a king, meaning he rules the world. But the image of God as king and God as father are not combined in scripture to paint us as the pampered, cossetted princesses of a divine kingdom.
And the warrior in scripture is an image that applies to all Christians, not just those with the Y-chromosome. Existence is a war between good and evil, and prayer and the exercise of virtue are how we fight the battle. The warrior metaphor conveys the urgency of the struggle and the necessity for every one of the faithful to be alert and on guard against evil, both within ourselves and as an external force. The spiritual warfare of Christian theology is not just for men. It is powerfully necessary for both men and women.
I don’t mind buying my daughters princess gear and letting them pretend to be Rapunzel or Cinderella, but I mind terribly if those princess games are used to present to them a false, gendered view of the gospel. Simple princess play is one thing; princess play imbued with ontological significance is something else. My daughters are not passive in the war between good and evil; they are warriors, and books that imply they can be passive and let the boys do the fighting for them do not prepare them for battle. I think I will be leaving those on the shelf.
(And do not even ask me about the actual Bible translations that come packaged as princess Bibles. I fear I would rant about them with a spittle-flinging intensity.)
Julia
There are PRINCESS BIBLES out there? Holy heck, I have a lot of horrifying discoveries out there ahead of me as a Christian mom, don’t I? Becoming a parent has made me realize in new and concrete ways how the world distorts and perverts gender, but boy, it makes me sad and mad when it is Christians doing it…
Minnesotamom
I received “Gigi” as a gift from a dear friend. Never mind the fact that I’m not a big fan of the princess attitude, but to see it in a Christian book almost made me throw up in my mouth. I haven’t read it to my daughter, and I don’t really intend to…but it is hard to get rid of it.
JulieC
This reminds me of the time a friend of mine talked me into reading “Captivating” by Stasi Eldredge. I nearly threw it across the room before I remembered it was a library book. (I didn’t want to pay for a replacement. Or the hole in my wall.) If it had been a book I’d bought I would have set it on fire. After I threw it.
Sherri E.
Sigh. The Princess Bible is really scary. Have you seen “Revolve?” Ack, I say.
JulieC., I had almost exactly the same reaction to “Captivating” as well as “Wild at Heart,” which I put down in disgust after Eldredge compared Jesus’ taking on the Pharisees to William Wallace (!) over Mother Theresa, thereby demonstrating that Eldredge doesn’t know very much about Mother Theresa’s willingness to go to the mat with the powers of this world.
Anna
I haven’t read this particular incarnation of the princess thing so I’m not commenting on the “Gigi” version of a princess specifically. And too, the current cultural idea of a princess is mainly of a spoiled brat whose wish is everyone’s command. But, that having been said, I don’t think the traditional fairy tale princess is spoiled and passive. Certainly she is treasured and is always beautiful, but she is forbidden to be vain about it. She must be kind; obedient; helpful to all, but especially the poor, the elderly, the disabled, and children; resourceful; hard-working, or willing to learn to work; persevering in difficulties; intelligent; and, though often needing to be rescued by a prince, also often provides said prince with the resources necessary for the rescue. Her role is different from that of the prince, but no less positive. Just my two cents (or more, since this was rather long…)
Steph @ Diapers and Divinity
funny. Maybe the image they should work toward is a little more “xena the warrior princess” kind? And amen to the notion that there’s nothing much more powerful than a daughter of God who’s a soldier of righteousness.
edj
This doesn’t surprise me at all. I think American evangelicalism has reacted to feminism by retreating back to what it perceives as the “good old days” instead of engaging and affirming what is good about it vs. what should be rejected (e.g.: homeschoolers glorifying pioneer times; or a reaction against Disney version of princess tales being viewed as almost spir. rebellion). But American culture is a pale, weak thing compared to what we are called to as followers of the Most High. And I HATE pink Bibles!!
Tonggu Momma
I abhor pink Bibles… I think I might throw up if I actually saw this princess Bible. And I’m with Sherri E. about “Wild At Heart.” Ack, I say!
Kate @ Small Scribbles
Have you read The Children’s Bible by Catherine F. Vos? It is definitely not a watered down wimpy kid’s Bible. (I wrote a review for it if you are unfamiliar with it: http://smallscribbles.blogspot.com/2007/08/childs-story-bible.html)
I agree with your thoughts here on all counts.
Kate
Happy Geek
It is good to know that I was not the only person thumbing through wild at heart in the bookstore muttering to myself about chauvinistic tripe.
The pseudo-feminist in me is offended by pink bibles but I have never thought of in the whole metaphorical sense. Thanks for giving me something to think about. We all are required to be warriors. Never thought of it that way, but oh it is true.
Beck
No KIDDING.
And also, the Christian toys I’ve seen have all been Z-grade. Does being a Christian mean that I’m going to be gung-ho for shoddy workmanship and lead?
liz
I, too, received Gigi as a gift for my daughter… it’s still on a shelf awaiting my thoughts (and has been for almost a year). I applaud your post, Veronica, and thank you for calling us to be vigilant for the Truth of the gospel! Theology is for all! And that is why we will start the catechism with our 5-year-old girl in the coming weeks.
As an aside, a truly fantastic book is “The Silence of Adam” by Larry Crabb (and a couple of others).
patois
I had no idea. What won’t people do to make a buck?
The Diaper Diaries
Hmmm. I don’t really know how comment. I am not sure about the whole theology of it all, but I really like Gigi. As a mother of a girl who is drawn to all things princesses, I much prefer this one to the scantily clad, major cleavaged, non-existent, step-mother hating ones Disney throws my way. The devotional itself more reinforced issues to girls realizing they are valuable and loved. Seeing how early the “mean girl” phenomenon starts at school (a Christian one no less), I am happy to have that message inforced as much as possible.
Just thought I should speak up for the Gigi likers out there.
Cindy
I too adore Gigi. She is in no way a passive little girl. Gigi takes scripture to heart in her books and is extremely evangelistic. Its encouraging and is showing my daughter that at a very young age, she is valued beyond anything by her Creator.
Now, for the teen girls who did not have this message reinforced as a little girl, we have Revolve. Revolve is a powerful weapon against Satan in these teens lives. They are hearing the same message. You are loved and valued by your Creator. Ask any teenage girl at these conferences. They are begging to hear these words. Nobody else is telling them. Revolve is making a difference in our world’s teenagers.
Then there is Captivating. This is for the woman who never heard these messages. Or if they did, the worldly images and ideas choked out the important ones. Captivating opened up my eyes and heart to the Lord’s deep and undending love for me as a woman. I fell in love with Jesus all over again. Literally. I went around smiling for days as if I had just met the love of my life. Well, I met Him again.
Ladies, Maybe you don’t have issues with self esteem. Maybe you are ingraining it in your children’s head and keeping them away from tv and other influences. Unfortunately I compare myself to celebrities on a daily basis. I am on a constant diet ( I am 5′6 and 135). I am not happy with myself. Its a constant battle to believe that I am perfectly created and adored by my Creator. I NEED tools like this to remember. God has created these tools and tremendously blessed them for His glory. I highly encourage you to take another look. As women we are extremely valuable to God. He despises the poison we ingest daily. He longs for us to get the message of who we are in Him. When my daughter is done watching Gigi, she has learned scripture and knows she is God’s Princess. Completely and perfectly made and valued.
fern
I am not familiar with Gigi, but when I think of warrior and princess different images appear in my head. I think they are both great for fantasy and play and that kids should have lots of fantasy and play.
But, I don’t like the idea of promoting warriors or princesses. I don’t think either are great things to be. However, I see some basic differences in the images–warriors are do-ers, seekers, having a purpose. Princesses–are. They just are, they don’t do-they have done for them, they are served…
Christian or not, I prefer a values driven life–I want my children (and myself) to be do-ers, to do for others, to seek wisdom and guidance, to look for opportunities to help and to appreciate, to work to make the world a better place, to learn from everyone.
I’m for the do-er.
Stormy
I was looking the other day for a simple kids Bible for my 4 year old. She is reading and has been asking for her own Bible. All I could find was those princess Bible’s. I really don’t approve. Still we are still looking!
Phoebe
My daughter was given a Gigi book as a gift and I like it. I liked it enough that I bought her a Gigi DVD for Christmas. I think the message they’re trying to portray is that of Biblical roles of men and women in general - not of spiritual battles we all face. They portray Gigi as beautiful, submissive, serving, while also still teaching valuable lessons - like being a princess is because we’re children of God, not because of something earthly. Men are to be warrios in providing and protecting their families, both physically and spiritually. I really think this is the message the series is trying to portray - not a deeper theological message of spiritual warfare.
Teaching my children about spiritual warfare is my job - not a books. And I think that if I solely relied on a book or if they interpret something and base everything solely on a book, then I’ve failed as a mother.
Just my thoughts.
Melanie
Great post! Well written and thoughfully expressed. I knew there was a reason the princess image was bugging me, but I could not put my finger on it.
Lisa
What I HATE about this book [or is it now a series?] is the way it visually rips-off Kay Thompson’s classic “Eloise” books. It evokes that image. Why no one has instigated a law suit over it, I don’t know. I also gag over the idea that EVERY girl, Christian or not is dying to be a princess [and may I say especially a DISNEY princess]!! Clothes today are also totally gender-specific with only red as a possible for both sexes, unless it’s a school uniform.
Great Post!! Thanks for writing it!
Abbie
So incredibly well stated. Thank you.
maudie-mae
I started a comment and Internet Explorer crashed. I’ll try to resurrect my thoughts. I have two copies of Vos’s Story Bible–one for each of my kids (see Kate’s comment). They are worth the price regardless. I have a son and a daughter and by my experiences, boys and girls are both mixtures–rarely is a girl always all girl, nor are boys always all boy. My daughter can be one tough cookie, and my son can be gentle and sweet. We need to do more of Training up children in the way they should go, so that when they are old, they do not depart from it.
Jessica
Hmm. I don’t really have an issue with princess stuff or pink or any of that. (Disney Princesses are a whole other ball game). I think of the strongest, most influential Christian women I know and most of them are that way BECAUSE they embrace their “woman-ness”. They play to their strengths- they are kind and mild and gentle and all those things. Those things are in their particular nature, but because they have been taught that what they have to offer is worthwhile. they know how to handle themselves in any situation. I like the idea that most princess stories generally promote the idea that even if you are beautiful and rich and bejeweled- your life won’t be perfect.
I think it would be far more sad to see a little girl who innocently and honestly loves pink and princesses who gets the idea that those things aren’t “good enough”. It just reinforces the idea that we have to subscribe to someone else’s idea of what we “should be” in order to be a good Christian or a good person.
The warriors in kids stories are always the handsome hero- and he always wins. Basically just the same as the princess stories only with less jewelry and shorter hair.
I think the most important thing is just to let kids be who they will in things like this- if my daughter wants a pink Bible I will buy her one and if she doesn’t, I won’t. But I also don’t think that a few pink things and tiaras are going to make or break who she is as long as I teach her how to put things in context.
Kathy - the J Crew
This so great, and so true…
The passive princess gig makes me want to barf. I have all boys and I feel the same way about the biblical stereotyping that goes on there as well.
I want my boys to be strong warriors, not out of control obnoxious boys who “hit things.”
Great thoughts here my friend, great thoughts
Alyson
We have Gigi books, pink Bibles and princess tiaras. We also have real discussions about life, my kids go to Sunday school, and we read from a “real” Bible. I think my kids have a pretty good foundation going, and while they like princesses and glitter and pink, they also know that life isn’t always pretty and perfect. At ages 6 and 7, I think the message that they are loved by their Father is the most important, and that is what they get out of those books.
anne
interesting discussion!!! we have Gigi, and while I don’t hate it, I don’t love it either. I hadn’t considered the ‘passive princess’ portrayal, maybe because it didn’t strike me that way. She is spunky and imperfect, and a princess only in the daughter-of-God sense (although she does like frilly, girly stuff). Anyway, if you want a really, great, true example of Christian royalty, try St. Elizabeth of Hungary.
Jenny from Chicago
Spittle flingin intensity is a phrase I will be stealing (apologies up front).
Very thought provoking, thanks for the post.
Jessica
I live in a 3rd World Country, surrounded by poverty and desperate need. There are women here, men and children here, who are dying and need to know God loves them. I long for the day when Christians will stop arguing about books, viewpoints, and will start loving and encouraging each other. I am guilty, too, but if a book has helped someone see that God loves them, who are we to condemn? God is so creative and has so many ways of reaching people. Thank you for your beautiful writing.
Diana
Great post! I linked it on my personal blog here: http://holesinmyshinyveneer.blogspot.com/2008/12/combatting-princessdiva-syndrome-part-4.html
Thanks!