Princess Complex

Perhaps it was when the movie Enchanted came out that I realized that the world has had a satiated overdose of Princess movies. Whether it be a Disney princess or a Pride and Prejudice aspiree (poor girl marrying a socially distinguished, rich man), it is the same. I've known quite a few women in my life that realistically buy into the notion that they ARE and should be treated like Princesses! Ok, ok I agree that women should be respected, loved, and valued in relationships, but these women take it to the extreme... all they are missing is a "glass slipper." The complex can be described as such:

1. Matchy-Smatchy: This is a term I coined for women who match everything in their wardrobe down to the handbag. To them, fashion=matching girly colors, lace, and frills. It is like taking a dress shop for 13 year old girls and making it into grown-up fashion.
   
2. Video collection: Their video collection consists of Disney movies and musicals (which they frequently quote or are caught singing, perhaps as if to call the woodland animals).
3. Dating Outlook: Men have the SOLE responsibility of initiating, maintaining, and finalizing a relationship. Often these women are found doing nothing more than "walking through forests" waiting for their Prince to magically call out to them and be totally enamored of them so much that they would instantaneously be sueded to conquer all sorts of odds (like fighting dragons) to be with them. When men don't live up to this expectation, resentment occurs.
   
4. Life Outlook: There is a missing sense of reality. Being "down-to-earth" means that you understand the world as it really is... these princesses see the world for what it should be (as diagnosed by Disney, or others)... which means that everything has a bow tied around it and "happily ever after" is a reality.
   

Additionally, I feel sorry for men who are expected to fulfill the role of Prince Charming. It takes the phrase "being a man" to the extreme. They are expected to do all the work and constantly try to guess what women are thinking and attempt to please them.

When I was in Europe and visited a castle in Germany, the guide said that the Prince (or descendant) of the castle is still alive. Now, as exciting as it would be to live in a drafty, Gothic, roomy castle, what are the chances that this prince would be charming? Two things come to mind when I think of the word charming: 1) flirt, 2) unlikely to settle down. If you were a prince these days, what incentive do you have to marry other than political reasons... you're a PRINCE, you can do whatever you want (in your kingship providence). Perhaps in the past the reason to marry was more obvious... you didn't have the globalization advantages we have today (or if you did... it was fairly limited) and the choices of beautiful women were confined to either princesses (of actual royal blood, not ones who thought they were) or the women met within a finite scope of travel. So with those conditions, it is conceivable that a prince WOULD fight to be with the most beautiful girl. But ladies, sadly... today we are faced with the "grass is greener" syndrome. Even if we are beautiful, there will always be another woman somewhere that is equally or even more beautiful. No man will fight for a woman the same way he did in olden times unless he is truly in love, and developing that love takes time, attention, flirting, dating, respect, and effort from both parties. To be honest... having that type of raw, honest, and fulfilling relationship is something to make a movie about...