A recent study has surfaced on the Facebook “trending” feed that seems to have parenting "experts" and feminists alike in a tizzy. The study was conducted by BYU family life professor Sarah M. Coyne and details that the exposure to skinny, young and beautiful princesses (specifically Disney princesses) can lead to “limiting stereotypes” for young girls.

The research was conducted on 198 preschoolers and included interviews with parents and teachers as well as the rankings of various toys by the preschoolers. The toys included typical girl and boy toys as well as other items not typically gendered, such as art supplies. Coyne observed the amount of time the children were exposed to princess oriented stuff, whether it was toys or television. The conclusion of the study determined that marginal exposure to "princess culture" was not harmful but long term exposure would prove to be damaging.

According to Coyne, minor media exposure of Disney princesses is not necessarily harmful, but young girls begin to identify with stereotypical “girly” things.

“We know that girls who strongly adhere to female gender stereotypes feel like they can’t do some things. They’re not as confident that they can do well in math and science. They don’t like getting dirty, so they’re less likely to try and experiment with things.”

Coyne blames Disney and the media for focusing on the image of a skinny and carefree princess which promotes a stereotypical girl image of not being as strong or adventurous as boys. This image, in turn, becomes an identifiable role model to young girls.

First of all, when has it ever been appropriate to fully believe everything the media has to say about a particular issue? The media spins a piece of information one way or another to sell. That is the bottom line: to make a profit. So if toy companies, Walmart or a news outlet think that a slim and rosy cheeked Merida with bouncy red curls will appeal to children and their parents with money in their pocket, then that is what they are going to promote. They are not endorsing an image of a role model nor are they enforcing a stereotype but are selling whatever makes a profit.

Secondly, it is a parent’s job to raise their child. That is the job description. It is the duty and right of a parent to teach their child right from wrong and what their child can and cannot do.

Children are not born with the knowledge of what defines a stereotype. They are taught that. And if they are not taught by those closest to them, children will absorb information from other sources.

If a little girl believes that she needs to look skinny and have shiny blonde hair to be desirable or just to be a girl, it is a parenting issue. Self-esteem and self-confidence are acquired and they are acquired from their surroundings. Nature vs. nurture, people! The nurturing part is quintessential to the whole parenting thing.

Coyne may not want her daughter to think that she’s hindered in some way by being a girl and doing feminine things, but isn’t saying she can’t identify with girly things just as bad as saying she should only identify with girly things? Being feminine is not wrong and declaring that princesses provide a bad image for young girls is just as bad as saying that girls can’t partake in math and sciences.

Growing up around Disney culture all my life, I can personally attest that I am no more girly or self-conscious than any other girl. I excelled in the sciences all throughout school (math wasn’t my strong suit but that wasn’t from a lack of trying, nor discouragement that I was the wrong gender to be good at it). I have never once felt limited by being a girl in what I accomplish nor have I ever thought I could pursue a certain profession based on gender. I wanted to be an astronaut, firefighter, doctor, CEO just like an of the other boys. Never in my life have I thought of getting an "M.R.S. degree" in college just because I’m a girl (but that’s a whole other topic).

So explain this to me Coyne: I’ve been exposed to Disney since I was born; I’ve been to Disneyland and Disney World a combined 18 times and I’ve spent numerous Halloweens dressed as a princess of some sort, but I still don’t identify as a “girly girl." Why? Because of my parenting.

I was raised to dream and pursue anything I wanted without any limitations. Yes, I wore dresses as child and I always wanted to use the pink sparkly scissors from the craft box during arts and craft time. I was also that girl who liked to collect rocks and catch lizards outside.

Coyne doesn’t even discuss princesses like Mulan who kicked the Huns’ asses in China, and Tiana whose dream was to own her own restaurant and worked two jobs to do so.

The issue is not with Disney and it’s not with the media. The issue is with parenting and what children are exposed to.