Just a question about an offensive book.

Honestly I think blaming the problems of self body image on fictional characters is just silly. I feel the same as you do, I grew up with Disney and girly things but not once did I think or feel anything along the lines of "Oh I wish I could be skinny like Cinderella".
When I was young Disney princess movies made me think of my future, growing up and falling in love with my 'prince'. Not make me feel pressured to look or feel a certain way. Thats how it was for me at least, so I too don't see why Disney Princesses would be a problem. As outgoing and intelligent characters I would think that they would be good role models for young girls vs. some of the celebrities and things that are in the media today.

I agree with you completely. There is nothing wrong with little girls ( or grown women :) ) liking to dress up and act girly... its NORMAL!

I haven't read this book before, but my friends have told me about it. I think if someone is going to bash something, they should show both sides; not just their incredibly biased opinion. I read an article about a mother who yelled at her daughter (and the daughter's dentist) for wanting a Cinderella sticker; I think that is just evil! As for bashing Barbies, Disney Princesses, and the color pink; it's not anyone's place to do that, we're human beings and have a right to our own opinions. My mother (though not really a feminist) didn't want me playing with Barbies because it might give me a bad body image. She let me watch Princess movies and such though. I had a few Barbie dolls that I rarely played with, so I don't think that is the cause of my body image issues (which are getting better by the way). I think my body image is 100% made by myself, not from seeing Barbie dolls every day of my life. I do like that the Disney Princess dolls (from the Disney Store) are a little bit more proportionate (chest to waist). It also annoys me when feminists say that the Princesses should be saving themselves. For one thing, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty (plus Meg from Hercules) couldn't possibly wake themselves from the dead. Cinderella deserved to be taken away from her stepfamily. She was just too kind to do it herself, but in the '50's she was viewed outspoken and not just a quiet reserved girl. Jasmine left her palace and fully intended to stay out to get away from her situation, she only came back to find out what happened to Aladdin. Ariel was just young and foolish, she's a teenager in the movie, why wouldn't she be selfish. I think any one of the Princesses are great roll models, compared to what kids are growing up today... No more ramblings. I just feel strongly about my opinion.

(I AM NOT) not all feminists are against barbie and disney princesses but even though im more into boyish stuff than girly-girl i think that that woman is a little too harsh. but i kinda understand her because when i was little, all my friends were boys so i was the only girl and they kept on saying girls were weak,after that, i tried to be strong and i actually kicked those boys butts and they dont underestimate girls anymore. maybe she just doesnt want girls to be weaklings and relying on men to save their lives all the time while they just waste half the time of their lives crying for help from the leading man. even though i find weak girls kinda annoying she doesnt have to blame it all on disney princess and barbie, it was a part of many girls' childhood like me.

Yeah I read a piece of that book and it kinda urked me cause I'm a huge fan of disney and grew up with the skinny big boobed barbie and I'm just fine. While I may not be skinny, I am a healthy weight and so are my two daughters. We watch disney, especialy the princess movies alot. I would rather have my daughters idolize the princesses vs the slutty teen celebs that are out there. Yes, I know not all the female idols out there are sluts, but alot of them are and some have serious issues that are a bad influence that the disney chacters don't have. And I am teaching them the diffrence between fairy tales and reality, just like my parents did for me. I think that lady just dosn't want to take the time out from her feminist rants to teach her daughter right.

Some people never grow up and this woman is one of those people. I don't know anybody who experiences anoxeria because of a cartoon girl, either! This woman is wasting her time and life bashing a bunch of things that are made out of paper and ink. The Disney Princesses are better role models than the 90% celebrities out there.
It seems to me that she is trying to tell girls being girly is evil. Is she trying to tell us to raise our daughters as boys? I don't think so! Making your daughter stop playing with dolls is like making your son stop playing with toy cars!!
What I dislike about feminists is that they bashed every girl for not wanting to do something that only guys do. Sure it is great that a girl wants to be a career woman, but not all girls want to be CEOs/business women. Some prefer to be a housewife/mother. My mom is a stay-at-home mom and she is a strong woman. If a girl wants to play with Barbies and Disney Princesses dolls, let her be. If a girl wants to become a business woman, let her be. If a girl wants to become a housewife, let her be. If a girl wants to wear a dress/skirt, let her be. And I believe that Disney showed us that there is nothing wrong with being a housewife (Snow, Cindy,) or a career woman (Tiana) or a tomboy (Mulan) or a girly-girl (Aurora) or someone who is part tomboy/part girly (Ariel, Jasmine, Rapunzel). I wonder if this witch has actually watched the Disney Princesses films.

Bad body image can't be blamed on Disney princesses. The media has the biggest role here, if they're not showing off skinny models then they're shoving the latest diets down our throats. And we're constantly being told about the obesity epidemic, no wonder everyone is conscious about their weight these days!