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The Princess Paradox Ponniewozik Analysis

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In the article, “The Princess Paradox,” author James Poniewozik argues that even though girls may grow up in a household that nurtures extreme independence and feminism, some girls want to be a princess coupled with being a strong individual. Poniewozik is compelled to explain this new cultural aura concerning both feminism and the desire to be a princess. He explains that now, in opposition to the idea of a need for domesticity as well as the polar idea of feminism, girls believe that they can be a princess independent simultaneously. He also explains that the princess must fit the girl, not the other way around. The author overall adequately supports his claim, that a change in media and film has altered girls’ desire to simply be independent, with details; however, he distracts from the topic at times with unnecessary information that …show more content…

He states that rather than believing they must solely prove their independence girls recognize that they can “have the girly dream of glass slippers and true love, these films say, as well as the womanly ideal of self-determination and independence” (Poniewozik 324). Poniewozik explains how a previous generation of women simply aspired to have the ability to do anything a man could. In this new generation, however, he states that choosing the fairytale ending does not debase a woman (Poniewozik 324). A quote from Marlo Thomas, a feminist author, included in the article says, “What women have tried to achieve for other women is choice in every step of their lives” (Poniewozik 324) Through including specific movies, such as Ella Enchanted and The Prince & Me, in which princesshood and feminism blend together to form empowered women who choose to be princesses, the author of this article begins gathering his support for the claim that girls have been affected by this recent transformation in the movie-making

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