Princess is NOT an Occupation

Princess is not an occupation

It’s career day at my daughter’s Mother’s Day Out. They are supposed to dress like what they want to be when they grow up. Naturally I’m behind in getting something for Caroline to wear so I’m frantically on Amazon and googling, “Toddler Girls Occupational Costumes”. Imagine my surprise when the options that come up were: doctor (great! she could be a doctor), maid (not just any maid, but a french maid costume for toddlers), and princess (wait… is princess an occupation?)

My first thought was “hmm that’s weird”. But no biggie, I’ll just google, “Toddler Boys Occupational Costumes” and she can wear one of those. So when I looked at those, here’s what came up: Astronaut, Doctor, a little business suit, firefighter, military. In all honesty, I was looking for a little power suit for her so she could be the president (naturally).

I was starting to feel a little weary of what I was going to get her. I decided to get her some scrubs and she could be a surgeon. No big deal! I asked her if she wanted pink scrubs or blue scrubs and of course she wanted pink ones (like mother like daughter). As I clicked on the pink scrubs to order them with 1-day shipping (I used to be more on top of things… what happened to me? … oh yeah I have a 2 year old and a baby) I notice that the pink scrubs are embroidered with the words “Big Sister” while the blue scrubs are embroidered with the words “Doctor in Training”.

OK THAT’S IT! I was okay when the choices were majorly skewed but this has taken it to a whole other level! As I sat and stared at the scrubs labeled “Big Sister” I thought about the world that my daughter is growing up in. See, I don’t usually buy into the whole feminist agenda. I don’t really feel like I’ve been held back because I’m a woman. I am blessed to have been raised by a strong woman and a dad who was raised by a strong woman. I have worked in a field of mostly men and felt valued and compensated well for my efforts. I have worked in a field of mostly women and felt fine with that too. But here in front of me there was something wrong. Here in front of me was someone’s opinion of what girls could grow up to be.

Here’s what I want my daughter to know:

Their “opinion” of what girls can grow up to be, is just that, an opinion. They don’t know me and they don’t know my daughter. Their gross generalization doesn’t have to apply to us. Girls can be anything they want to be just like boys can be anything they want to be. Girls can be assertive and it shouldn’t be considered bossy. Girls can maintain their femininity and be a leader. Girls can be lady like and be in charge. And most importantly, being a PRINCESS IS NOT AN OCCUPATION!

Moms of daughters, can you relate to this? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

 

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Carrie Gould
Hi OKC! I'm Carrie! My husband, Steven, and I met in college but never dated. Many years later, we reconnected and fell in love. After a whirlwind romance and gorgeous wedding I gave up my Texan status and moved to Oklahoma (he was worth it!) He spends his days on the road travelling all over the state of Oklahoma. We are the proud parents of our adorable 2 year old, Caroline and precious baby Benjamin. There is very little sleeping going on at our house. I am a music lover and a wannabe crafter. I am very good at following directions but not so great at creating my own masterpieces. I was a math teacher for 6 years before becoming a stay-at-home mom. Before being a teacher, I worked in the actuarial field, which is what I am doing part-time now. As a family we work hard to live a simple life, create great memories, and love the Lord with all our heart. I am so excited to be sharing my family with all of you and connecting with other local moms!

6 COMMENTS

  1. Overall I appreciate this article – however I just can’t stop myself from responding to the negative connotation given to the “feminist agenda.” This is clearly a Momma who believes that women should be treated equally – the definition of feminism is simply the belief that women should have equal rights to that of men. I love this author’s statement that “Girls can maintain their femininity and be a leader.” That is the true root feminism – I can be a girl and embrace feminine characteristics and be equally valuable as a strong leader. I’m delighted for this author that she has experienced equality in her career – that’s what feminists have fought for and will continue to fight for…if you value your right to vote, your right to receive equal pay, your right to choose whether or not you work in or out of your home, thank a feminist. I don’t know you Carrie, but you are clearly a great Mom and strong leader – I just want to point out that your article is pointing out that we as a society still need feminism. I hope there is a day in my life time when it be will a foregone conclusion that women will be equally represented in all fields and we will be as easily able to find career costumes for girls as for boys. Maybe feminism will then become an archaic term because, of course, we are all equal and who would ever think differently. Until that time, as a woman, wife, mother, Christian, and business owner, I proudly own the title feminist. -Tara

  2. As a mother of three daughters I will happily get, “caught up in the feminist agenda”. Afterall, the definition of feminism is believing in equal rights regardless of gender. And that’s something I want my daughters to know I will fight for, because that’s fighting for them.

  3. This is a fantastic article. Being a mom of a little girl, it does get annoying that people feel like she can only do certain things. And I totally understand what you are saying about feminism. It’s not that you are against equality, just maybe some of the extremes that we sometimes see that supporting today. Thanks for this article.

  4. I beg to differ! It just so happens, my occupation is indeed… a princess!

    My partner and I run a company called Forever After Parties, and we both works as performers/princesses, but we also juggle a zillion other task that goes with running a small business with employees!

    It’s really all in perspective. I suppose the point or moral I’m trying to make is, we can be everything… The power attorney in the courtroom or the top physician, skilled in a particularly difficult cardiothorasic procedure, all while wearing a tiara.

    When and why did it become wrong to just want to be an ooey gooey, apron and heels wearing woman?

  5. Thanks for your comments guys! Kara – That’s so awesome that you get to be a princess everyday! Don’t be fooled guys, princesses are still an integral part of our day! Caroline does dress up like a princess and we watch Sofia the First (although I’m not totally sure how she became a princess, did they kidnap her from the village?) And I DEFINITELY cried the first time I saw Cinderella’s castle at Disney World. I really just don’t get who is deciding what career costumes go to what genders… weird! This blog really wasn’t about feminism and since I’m southern I won’t get into the whole politics of everything, but there are definitely some things on the feminist ticket that I don’t agree with. Tara, you are totally right! I hope that feminism becomes an archaic term. In our house, it was just called treating people the way they should be treated. Hopefully one day that’s how the whole world will be. I like to always think about what Horton said in Horton Hatches an Egg – “A person’s a person no matter how small” 🙂

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