In one of the article's on princess culture, the writer provides examples of women who have driven themselves into debt in an effort to live a princess-like lifestyle. The basis for this is that these women grew up influenced by the portrayal of princesses through animated media or dress-up products.
I think this connection is extremely loose. For example, I hardly watched the Disney princess movies, instead, I watched a lot of the ones with animals as main characters. Though I'd like to consider my self with characteristics like a fancy feline, I AM NOT AN ARISTO-CAT. (meow)
It's silly to blame princess media and consumerism for the debt of these women. The influence of media is minimal compared to the actions executed inter-personally in everyday life. If anything, the portrayal of these princesses is puffery compared to a realistic perspective.
However, this is when I digress to propose the idea that the over-consumption of media, or binge watching, can heavily influence someone. People don't necessarily relate to the actions of a character, but more-so the character's personality. But actions and attitude go hand-in-hand. Enough sitting in front of the TV, absorbed in a television show, allows a viewer to develop a parasocial relationship with a character. We become separate from our own identity and enveloped in a fictional one.
In this sense, a person can become ignorant of the means, but do anything to reach the similar ends (lifestyles) of their favorite character.
So, what I'm getting at is, no, I don't think the princess culture is to blame for the debt these women are in, UNLESS they were glued to the telly watching these princesses everyday, enveloping themselves in a fantastic world and ignoring the reality of home-life.
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