Disney Princess Kitchen?

[MrsK]

Kohl’s has a Disney Princess Kitchen Set on sale for $14.99. I'm thinking of getting this for a friend's daughter for her birthday. My friend majored in Women's Studies in college and dressed her girl in gender neutral clothes for the first 2 years of her life. Now her daughter is 3 and in the pretty pink princesses phase. First, I'm a little worried that my gift will send my friend into orbit though she has been a really good sport about her daughter's attachment to all things princess/girly/sparkly. Secondly, I'm not familiar with this product. Have any of you seen it?

[Chrisada]

Why don't you just give her a quick e-mail or call before you get it and see what she thinks. My good friend who also majored in Women's Studies has absolutely no princess stuff for her daughters and was annoyed at all the plastic toys she received for a birthday (she was really crunchy).

[SoonerTexan]

How funny...my capstone for my history degree was Feminist Thought, so we naturally had a lot of Women's Studies majors in there. I specifically remember a Disney Princess discussion that was pretty polarizing. (Some thought they were Satan's handmaidens, others couldn't understand what the big deal was) One woman who already had a child expressed similar sentiments as your friend. Personally, I think it is a bit ridiculous (especially if the kid truly is interested on her own), but I'd email her like Chrisada said since everyone has the right to raise their child the way they want.

[GrayMatterWife]

You should call her and ask, to be respectful of her preferences.

But seriously: girls will be girls and boys will be boys. You can't intellectualize them into gender neutrality. And I find it interesting and somewhat amusing--if not telling--that parents are always OK with their little girls playing with trucks and bugs because that's cute, but mask their concern with a forced smile if their little boys carefully primp Barbie's hair or try to breastfeed the babydoll.

I say check with her first, my mom has just recently forgiven my uncle for giving me a Barbie doll when I was 6. And although I agree with GMW about parents and gender the majority of yhe time, I did have a male cousin whose mom made him sport his sisters' hand-me-down bathing suits, like with hearts on them, well into elementary school.... The true irony? He is one of the most overly masculine gentlemen I know!!!!

[alison]

Am I the only one who thinks this isn't the right toy for your friend's daughter? I mean... Just pick something else out if there's any chance that your friend could be offended. It's sort of open and shut to me...

If you like the kitchen and the price, buy it now, and give it to someone whom you know will love it!

[Meenah]

I agree with Alison!!!! If you have to think this hard about it, don't do it.

[Urowife]

I saw it, and it does appear to be a fantastic price for a kitchen set, but it is a bit frilly. I don't mind about exposing my DD to that kind of stuff, but I would still prefer a more low-key kitchen set for my DD. So, my guess is that this mom would too.

[Thirteen]

Or, keep it for BabyK1. I have noticed with my friends that a play-kitchen is something that most children, regardless of sex, enjoy tremendously.
If you are comfortable with it, then I would go for it. That's a great price!
(This, coming from the woman whose husband wants to name their child after Genghis Khan, because it's super "manly.")

[Meenah]

Amy is getting one for Oliver, he loves to help in the kitchen, and to pretend cook.