My Redefinition of the word “Princess”

The word I would love to redefine is “Princess”. Other than its literal meaning of ladies of the royal family, the word princess has also been used and related to concepts negatively. I can totally agree with some but letting a good word turns into a bad one; I would rather “Re-redefine” it instead.

How would you define the word “Princess”? I bet everyone has a different answer and thought. If you ask a little girl, she probably tells you that her dream is to become a princess or she is a princess because her daddy told her so. I see that generally little girls are very into princesses. They watch Disney’s princess movies, dress up as princesses in gowns and crowns, role play princesses and their princess toys are their best friends. Princess is a symbol of femininity; princesses are beautiful, elegant and have the centre of attention. Who doesn’t want to be a princess?! When I was little, I was raised by my granny who accepted and applied the oriental parenting, which is a more outcome-concerned way of parenting with less praises but mainly discouraging comments. She believed all princesses were spoiled. She told me I was not a princess and only princesses were superior to always get their ways. In my opinion, the society fascinates little girls with the concept of princesses is not a bad thing. I believe every girl deserves a happy childhood and be a princess for once at least when they are little. But I also see the necessity to educate our little girls the meaning behind and qualities of a princess.

So, how about the grownups? If you ask a man, he may answers you that a princess is a girl and girls are fragile and need to be protected. I guess this is how they relate to Link saving Zelda or Mario saving Peach. If you ask a woman, she may tells you that she is waiting for her Prince Charming but guys she has met all told her that she has princess syndrome. Princess syndrome is an unofficial sickness for sufferers who are pampered, overindulgent and