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Little girls or little women? The Disney princess effect

Flower, Concrete, WA. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Flower, Concrete, WA. Photo by Scarlett Messenger

What effect does the hypersexualization of the heroine have on young girls? Although I myself have a great fondness for Disney and Barbie, and I don’t categorically consider them “evil”, clearly we are doing little girls a disservice when these are the only role models they have to choose from.

In today’s highly sexualized environment – where 5-year-olds wear padded bras – some see the toddlers-and-tiaras Disney princess craze leading to the pre-teen pursuit of “hot” looks. Do little girls become little women too soon?

Little girls or little women? The Disney princess effect