Can the Princess Narrative Please Die Already
Dominant discourse within the institution of religion tends to paint an image of women as docile servants of man and the lord. This is why religion, for the most part, makes me squeamish and uncomfortable. I just can’t get down with the idea that women are a bunch of damsels in distress.
Too bad Sheila Walsh thinks otherwise.
In Sheila’s recent book, Gods Little Princess Devotional Bible, she positions young women as entirely reliant upon the lord to determine their own self worth. Identifying young women as the princess-daughters-of-the-lord plays into age old stereotypes of women as nothing more then an extension of man. Within this conceptual framework, it is impossible for women to manifest their own self worth outside of their relational ties to God. Sheila asks the question, “what girl wouldn’t want to be a princess?” Well Sheila, I can think of quite a few. You know, the one’s that want to be – I don’t know – astronauts, pilots, doctors, lawyers, or maybe even professional feminists. lol. The point being that you can’t wrap young women’s viability as moral actors up in this fantasized narrative about serving God, particularly based on totalizing generalizations about women’s “natural” virtues. Dodai, at Jezebel, highlights exactly how this dominant narrative positions women as subservient. She states,
Furthermore, regardless of the religious message, teaching a girl to be a “daughter of a King” is troubling as it means that the little girl’s identity is fully linked with that of someone else. In this case, the King is God, but all princesses have this problem: A princess is a daughter, a wife or an heir — not an individual. She defines herself by who she in relation to another. Plus, while a warrior goes out on adventures and experiences the world, a princess usually stays in her castle.
On top of that, the language of the text is only the half of it. Giving the big middle finger to any possibility of a gender-neutral book cover, Sheila chose to present the text in pink accents and a tiny tiara. Because of course “virtuous women” must love pink. ugh. Here is a more detailed description of the book,
The characteristics focused on in this Bible storybook will help your little girl blossom into the princess she was created to be. Virtues to create beauty such as compassion, sharing, and truth are highlighted in fun and engaging ways. The perfect format for girls to learn about their destiny as a daughter of their King.
I’m not trying to say that religion is bad. It’s not my place to tell anyone else what they can and can’t spiritually believe, however; selling the idea that young women are daughters of their king drives home the notion that women’s identity is entirely wrapped up in their relationship with a higher power. It creates a detrimental power relationship of dominance and sub ordinance that places women as servants for the purpose of man and God. I’m sorry, but I can’t get down with that. In addition, it gets even worse when you take a look at the version of this book intended for young boys. It’s called, God’s Mighty Warrior Devotional Bible. The book’s description goes a little like this,
Just like God created little girls in a special way, He created little boys to be mighty warriors… even when they feel small. Now with this new devotional Bible in storybook format, boys can learn how to be strong, honorable, courageous and true. Selections of Bible text from the International Children’s Bible are combined with delightful articles to help a budding warrior earn his armor.
Gotta love how women get the short end of the stick in this sexist and sensationalized narrative. While young girls should sit around focused on being beautiful and virtuous servants of the lord, young boys should be learning how to be honorable moral actors in the world. The whole story completely sidelines women’s agency for the purpose of selling some romanticized story about God.
I am completely disturbed that anyone would even consider reading these books.
1Lyndsey
wrote on 17 November 2009 at 20:09
I wonder what Mary of Magdalene would think about having to be a princess…especially given the racial/ethnic and class issues that would bring up for someone following a “working-class” Jew who was undermining social and religious heirarchies? Don’t even get me started on what’s wrong with the “mighty warriors.”
Thanks for posting this.
2aj
wrote on 18 November 2009 at 13:59
thats a good question lyndsey. I wonder what Mary of Magdalene would say. I also wonder what Lilith might have to say about this problematic trope.
3freewomyn
wrote on 19 November 2009 at 19:43
Mary Magdalene was a bad ass, first off. That’s why she had to be painted as a whore – so that people would ignore the fact that she was totally down with the JC and should have been his successor. But I digress . . .
I think the idea of God’s Little Princess Bible is so gross – it’s no different than Bratz dolls. Except instead of encouraging little girls to be sluts, the book encourages little girls to be passive and subservient. Great job debunking how it constructs gender roles. Totally gross.
4Gembird
wrote on 23 November 2009 at 16:29
‘”what girl wouldn’t want to be a princess?” Well Sheila, I can think of quite a few. You know, the one’s that want to be – I don’t know – astronauts, pilots, doctors, lawyers, or maybe even professional feminists.’
Totally. The only princesses I ever wanted to be were the ones that turned into awesome queens. Boudicca was a favourite of mine when I was younger (actually, she still is, as she ruled the area I grew up in).
It’s not just the religious brainwashing that bugs me- and it does- but the assumption that little girls naturally follow and don’t lead- maybe even can’t lead. Not in their nature or some shit. My mother could tell you a whole lot of stories that prove this crazy woman wrong.