I guess I shouldn't have been surprised my daughter would want to be a princess. We did name her Jazmine and in popular, Disneyfied culture it is a regal name. She has always been our family princess but in the last two years she has also been a part of a royal court at school.
Both of my children are in classes with more girls than boys. Their song could echo three or four girls for every boy. When my son was in elementary school their class was big and all the children were kept together for several years, building friendships and developing personalities together in their unique classroom. It was a group of young people who learned to work together well and often went months and even years without detentions.
The boys in the group aren't a close-knit bunch and have interests ranging from team sports to literature to hunting and farming, but they grew up together and continue to impress teachers with their spirit and work ethic.
My daughter's class is slightly larger and has been split into two classrooms. For two years the small group of boys was kept together to build stronger bonds, leaving one of the teachers with a classroom of all girls.
I chose education without boys for four years in junior high and high school and thrived in the environment even though the uniforms were hideous to us at the time. There were many opportunities for us to grow as young women and we were given the chance to celebrate the arts and culture in ways few boys would enjoy.
In her all girl classrooms, my daughter has enjoyed the companionship of the other princesses, but has also been mocked when using a hand me down Spiderman water bottle or wearing the wrong clothes. We've been told this is the last time she will be in a classroom with all girls and although I'll miss walking into a classroom bathed in pink and vibrating with gentle giggles, I know the real world isn't quite as frilly and pretty.
The teacher has given the girls assignments celebrating their girlyness and they have had dress up days to feel special. This week they've invited us to a princess tea and we'll end the year honouring their talents and preferences as little girls.
In a world where there are still many places without much value for female children or respect for women it is good to know in a situation created to benefit boys the little girls have had their own very special experience.
