T-riffic T-Shirts for Girls

Check out these really cool girl power T-shirts from Ava's Closet that I stumbled upon at the Polkadot Patch Boutique: "Doctor, Not Diva" and "President, Not Princess." Cute, right? And don't you just love the message? I do … so much so that my cats just may wind up being shoved into one of these.

So sorry, Paris and Nicole: You don't get to be role models in Ava's Closet. Drop your chihuahuas, put your hands up, and step away from our daughters.

Anyone else out there a little uncomfortable with little girls wearing shirts that say "Diva" or "Princess"? Any other options for how to dress your daughters for success, rather than a limiting stereotype? How about a tip or two on how to stop the bleeding after you try stuffing your cat into a T-shirt? Speak up!

Comments

[sarah]

I have nothing against these shirts, but, c'mon, really?? You really think a t-shirt is going to make or break your daughter's belief of what she can or cannot do?? Why do we have to be so defensive? While I agree that, within some limits, we should encourage our daughters in what they desire, we can go the opposite way too - we say "way to go" to the girl who wants to be a lawyer, and then patronizingly reply "that's nice, dear" to the girl who truly wants to be a stay-at-home mom. If you want your daughter to have the proper perspective on herself as a person, it has a lot more to do with what you allow between her ears than a saying on a t-shirt - whether that's "princess" or "president"

[Prisca]

I love these shirts! I often worry about what kind of women this generation of princesses and divas will grow up to be. Self-confidence and goals are great, but self-absorption and indulgence is not.

[Laura @ Laura Williams' Musings]

I don't like the shirts having things like that on them or anything that is blazed across the chest like that. Draws attention to an area of the little girls (or teen's for that matter) body that men should not be looking at.

Call me old fashioned but I just don't care for that.

[Julie]

I think these t-shirts are fabulous, although I for one am AGAINST spending nearly $30 for one shirt for my little girls. However, I don't think the point of these shirts is to empower our daughters,(I know for a fact my 4 year old has no idea or concern what her shirt says, so it's more about what I want it to say!) as much as it is to make a statement to the world that we, as parents, will not let our daughters be sucked into these silly and meaningless "roles". And while my girls love to play dress-up and be princesses, they also play doctor and even play church --and whatever they are playing, I think it's important to embrace their creativity and let kids be kids. I will not, however, dress my child in clothes that LABEL her a spoiled princess, a "future Mrs. Timberlake" or anything of the like.

[Cathi]

My daughters are not allowed to wear anything that labels them as a princess, diva, rock star, etc. I do not want them to ever have a feeling of entitlement. It's just something I really have a problem with, and it's unfortunate. It's hard to find cute t-shirts for them that don't have something like that written all over them.

[Judy]

These are awesome!! I'm ordering one for my niece today--she's already a little anti-diva anyway!
P.S.--It would be a CAT-astrophy (HA) to dress Lloyd in this- he is both diva and princess!

[Sara]

I love these shirts!! If they weren't so expensive, I would probably get one for my daughter. I really hate the whole princess/diva trend. I want my children to be free to be whoever they are and fulfill their potential for their brains and beauty, without a sense of entitlement.

Our culture is so ridiculously focused on women's appearance and attractiveness to men; I want to keep that message away from her as long as possible, not emphasize it on her clothes. I never want my daughter to think that her only worth is dependent on her ability to attract males. I encourage her to express her imagination in any way she chooses: in pretending to be a doctor, a firefighter, a fairy, whatever, and I never want her clothes to pigeon-hole her into a limited gender stereotype.

[Elizabeth Simpson]

This is so great! We were given several clothing items proclaiming our daughter as 'princess' and I really hate that. It's against everything I hope for her. I'm going to get the 'President not Princess' t-shirt right now! Thanks!

[Elizabeth Simpson]

This is so great! We were given several clothing items proclaiming our daughter as 'princess' and I really hate that. It's against everything I hope for her. I'm going to get the 'President not Princess' t-shirt right now! Thanks!

[Neena]

Oh - these are great! I always make it a point to tell my daughter how smart she is, and how important it is for her to be smart. There is too much emphasis on "pretty".

[Neena]

Oh - these are great! I always make it a point to tell my daughter how smart she is, and how important it is for her to be smart. There is too much emphasis on "pretty".

[Stacey]

I'm with everyone else these are awesome but a 30 buck t-shirt is not in my budget. This would make a great give-a-way time though (hint hint hint)!

[Brittany]

I think these are a great answer to the styles so popular for girls today. Society is trying hard to tell girls and women they are only as good as they look. We need to answer back to these negative messages! To Laura who said she didn't like shirts with messages across the chest-- little girls don't have breasts, and I worry that telling them not to wear clothing with writing on the chest is going to make them feel guilty about their bodies, as if there is something wrong with them.

[DESTINY NELSON]

I love this. Should have always been that way.

[Susan]

LOVE IT! My litle girl is not even here yet and I ordered one. It's a small step towards changing the way girls feel about themselves but I hope that she has much higher goals than to be a diva or a princess.

[Ginger]

I also love these shirts. I think it's great that girls are given the chance to express themselves in multiples ways. I'm not a big fan of the 'diva' thing, but 'princess' I have no problem with. My little girl loves to dress up like a princess, play with her tool bench, push around her 'big dig' machine and paint her toe nails while playing in the kitchen. I'm very in favor of kids developing their own positive traits/qualities, however feminine or not feminine they may be.

I definitely don't think 'princess' shirts will ruin a child or lead them to believe that only looks are important. It's just simply fun to feel like a princess :) As long as things like that don't go to their head, which with the right environment they shouldn't, then I definitely don't see a problem with it. Why shouldn't a little girl want to be a princess, fairy, doctor, construction worker, or anything else she can dream of???

I already have the 'president not princess' shirt because I think it's cute and I definitely value education, but I'm also completely fine with my litle girl wearing her pink, frilly princess shirts and dresses too :)