Princesses power & the playroom
Recently on Freakonomics, actor and activist Geena Davis spoke about the connection between Disney princess culture and what she calls the “biggest problem in the world”: gender inequality.
It’s a conversation we’ve had time and time again over the past 2 years. In speaking with Parents during playtests we’ve heard many of you explain a tension you feel with Princesses- your daughter loves them, but you’re worried that they’re silly, stereotyped and disempowering. You don’t want her to be rescued, you want her to be fearless, rebellious, think scientifically, seek adventure and take charge!
In this blog, we explore what message princesses are sending, and how you can power up the playroom by harnessing their fantasy magic.
Children’s ideas about gender begin as early as age 6, when girls are less likely than boys to believe that they are “really, really, smart” and less likely to choose to play with toys that were for ‘really, really, smart’ children.
“Girls in particular who were really into princess culture at age four tended to be more gender-stereotyped the next year”, Sarah Coyne, a professor of psychology at Brigham Young University explains on Freakonomics. “They don’t think that they can do well in math or science. They’re less likely to want to go on to college when they get older. So it’s really about limiting yourself and what you could become.”
Coyne reports that 61% or girls surveyed played with Disney Princess toys at least once a week. Compared to 4% of boys who were more likely to play with STEM toys which are 3x more likely to be targeted towards them. Toys that are fun, but also contain an educational value are more often bestowed upon boys, seeding interest in STEM and later in life, occupational choices.
Play matters. When children are only playing with one ‘kind’ of toy they’re likely to be missing out on a whole host of skills. Anne Forbes, an academic from Macquarie University whose research focuses on STEM education explains that Toy type influences play type. “If girls are mainly given dolls, cooking utensils and toy animals while boys are given toy carpentry tools, cars and robots then play will be along typical gender stereotypical lines.”
Talu Tales was created by two girls who really like fantasy, unicorns and friendship, and don’t believe anyone should have to give them up to become a scientist 🦄
The best of both worlds
Here are three ways we can enter young girls worlds of magical kingdoms, fantasy and princesses, and expand it to introduce STEM concepts and problem solving in a way that’s attractive, welcoming and engaging:
Pick atypical princess stories
Ask challenging questions, keep an open mind and encourage critical thinking
What would happen if a princess didn’t like wearing dresses? Can boys wear dresses too?
Can princes like the colour pink too?
What’s another way she could have solved that problem?