Many girls grow up around the imagery of a princess. From donning onesies that read “Daddy’s Little Princess” to watching them in movies and adorning their rooms or wardrobe. One Kentucky high school recently released a new ad letting girls know that they can be much more than the princess images they see.
Phrases like, “You’re not a princess,” and “Don’t wait for a prince. Be able to rescue yourself” alongside pictures of a glass slipper and a Disney-like prince decorate the newest ads of all-girl Catholic school, Mercy Academy. Principal Amy Elstone believes these messages will help girls move beyond the ideas of a fairy tale and encourage them to write stories of their own.
“We knew it was going to be risky going with this message,” Elstone told TODAY Moms. “Our girls are growing up in a society where they’re told by their parents that they’re a princess, and our message is that they’re not a princess, they’re so much more.”
The school of 550 students launched the campaign last week publishing ads on websites, billboards and bus shelters. The campaign, according to Elstone, stands true to the school’s mission of preparing girls for the 21st century.
“You watch the Hollywood romance movies and you see the happy ending and the guy always comes in and saves everybody and everybody lives happily ever after and that’s not life,” Natalie Morales of the TODAY Show said in agreement with the school’s message.
Read more and watch Mercy’s enrollment video on TODAY Moms.
BMWK – What do you think about this approach? Do you teach your girls that they are princesses?