However an interesting thought, I have a friend, who is a sociology professor. She is adamantly against all this stuff as well. Her daughter begged and pled for princess crap, and eventually she broke down. Why? Because in her research she discovered that owning princess items, for girls, and guns and swords, for boys, were a form of “currency” in navigating toddler and the under 8 set social politics.

The idea of gender-role stereotyping is what touches the nerves. Why separate the genders at all when there is no obvious need to do so (no overnights, etc.)?

But, how dare we question this seemingly harmless kid-camp experience? Are kids smart enough to even see the discrepancy…”Girls stay inside and read and have tea and crumpets…while the boys explore, divide and conquer…they are the movers and the shakers…they get things done.” While there is nothing inherently misogynistic about these camp offerings, there is an undercurrent of gender-role stereotyping that may be subtle, yet enduring. Therin lies the rub.

Would this one camp experience make it such that a little “princess” might feel that she would be resigned to a life “castle-keeper” and “tea-preparer”? (And that SHOULD be a choice if it is made freely, and amongst other options) Highly unlikely…just as it is highly unlikely that a child would learn to read given just one lesson in reading. It is the exposure to the topic and idea over and over again, which finally consolidates it in one’s head. It is the strong undercurrent and the insidious power that it has on one’s developing belief systems about themselves and how they fit into this world, what their options are, what they are capable of and how big they can dream.

The good news is…the camps run at different times. The saving grace would be a disclaimer that says, “While we recognize not every girl might enjoy the “Princess Camp”, and every boy might not swoon at the idea of “Adventure Camp”…we scheduled them at different times and you are encouraged to sign your child up for one OR both of the camps!”

This takes it to the next degree. As someone who grew up with dirt under her nails and insisting on wearing pants since that’s what her brother’s did, I couldn’t begin to understand the fascination with sitting in a hot room making tiaras over the summer. I started full day camp at age 4– earlier than my brothers because I just couldn’t take it anymore to be left behind by the big yellow camp bus– and 8 week sleep away camp at age 9. It was dirty and sweaty and fun.

Now I’m not saying that girls can’t like princesses. Or that they can’t like tiaras. As long as they can toss them aside when running down a field, diving into a lake, or collecting frogs (spring peepers– we were obsessed with them) in their hands while waiting their turn on the archery field.

Nice work, Melissa.