Princess.

It always seems that the pendulum swings too far one way and then the next. Pretty, beautiful and princess have become “bad words,” and we can’t call our daughters these things because when we do, we are toppling the foundations of feminism. This is strange, as I had always thought the raison d’etre of the movement was to give women freedom. Freedom in all things, including expression of self, EVEN when that expression of self includes the colour pink or a princess dress.

Instead of labelling the words as harmful, how about we expand on their meaning, fill them out and give them depth? How about we teach our daughters and sons that “pretty is as pretty does”? That wanting to have your hair or nails done or wearing head-to-toe pink or a dress or a tutu does not mean you aren’t also kind, brave, smart, creative, resilient, and so on.

Let’s teach them that one character trait does not have to come at the cost of another, that the Feminist Movement has been fought and is being fought so that we can be both, all, or anything we want and that no one - not even other women - can tell us otherwise.

And while we’re on the subject, let’s stop doing such a great disservice to Princesses, not the Disney ones, but those who now and throughout history recoil at the idea that a princess is some vapid form whose looks define her identity and worth.

Pinyang – a military hero, Princess Anne – an Olympian, Princess Diana, Rania Al Abdullah, Ameerah Al-Taweel, and Grace Kelly - dedicated Humanitarians. These royal women (and many others) deserve to have their titles respected and not reduced to some anti-feminist buzzword.

So when my daughter walks up to me with a crown in one hand and a princess dress in the other, I’m going to put it on her and tell her she’s a beautiful princess because she is and not me or anyone else has the right to tell her otherwise or limit the possibilities encompassed within that word.

*As featured on Filter Free Parents, original title, Why I am Totally Okay with you Calling my Daughter a Princess.