'If my daughter wants to dress up as a princess I'm not going to stop her'

"They promote the monarchy to children," one mum claimed after winning a petition to ban the costume from Kmart. "Our next targets are: Fairy Princess, Dream Princess."

Ladies and gentlemen, it seems we’ve officially lost the plot.

Ok, let me explain.

I spend more time on social media than I care to admit.

I like to justify it as research for my next story, but let’s be honest: My doom-scrolling rarely yields much substance.

That is until I came across this post on a Facebook group I’m a member of.

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“We did it!”

On Monday, a mum took to the Facebook Group ‘Kmart Mums Australia’ to share an announcement.

“Congratulations, Mums!” she wrote with an alert and champagne bottle emojis.

“We did it. Kmart are no longer selling Child Bride costumes.

“Please join me in giving ourselves a round of applause,” she proudly added.

“Our next targets are: Fairy Princess costume, Dream Princess costume, and Disney Frozen Elsa costume.”

Wait, what?!

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For heaven’s sake!

My eyes rolled so many times reading this post, and I felt a part of my childhood die.

Before I launch into my tirade, let me start by adding the following T&Cs.

If you want to raise your child a certain way, that’s your right.

I have no say on how or what you call parenting.

I don’t expect your feedback on how I raise my child, and you can expect the same in return from me.

Ok, with that being said…

For heaven’s sake, when does it end?

I was so confused by the post and the mum’s sense of achievement from her “win” that I jumped into the comments section in search of an explanation.

RELATED: Hilarious debate over Kmart notebook’s ‘naughty’ design flaw

Are you for or against banning kids' costumes? Source: Kmart

I’m not alone

The post has hundreds of comments questioning the quest to ban more costumes.

“Let kids be kids, fairy and princess costumes nothing wrong with it. Let kids be kids, you are so judgemental,” wrote one frustrated mum.

Another added, “It's a part of growing up, using our imaginations and learning how to prepare and think about what we see and want for our futures. It's learning and growth and I think a perfectly normal, fun and beautiful part of being a child!”

“Who let the older generation have phones,” joked one mum. 

However, one mum agreed in some regard, “With some cultures promoting child brides and it’s happening in our own country, the child’s bride dress up needs to stop. Allow the Disney costumes but not the child bride.”

“It feeds the system”

The original poster jumped in and replied to some of the questions, providing he insight into her push to ban more costumes.

She asserted, “They promote the monarchy to children, which is a societal construct that is only suitable for populations that lack the ability to govern themselves.”

“It feeds into a system of hereditary power at the top of the country’s political, military and religious institutions that perpetuates class divisions and inequality.

“It also indirectly promotes capitalism and undemocratic processes. 

“Hope this helps.”

The woman, who also happens to be an admin for the group, received a ton of backlash, but this clapback was my favourite: “If you are so passionate about capitalism, I recommend you start a page promoting local producers, independent designers, local markets, and op shops.

RELATED: Mum’s ‘grubby’ find under Kmart shelf

Dressing as a princess "indirectly promotes capitalism and undemocratic processes" according to one woman. Source: iStock

Why not both?

I don’t know about when you were a kid, but when I was seven, I definitely wasn’t considering class divisions and societal constructs.

I grew up playing with Barbies in those awfully loud plastic heels and Disney Princess costumes.

I dressed up as a fairy for one book week and I’m sure if I was growing up in the era of Elsa, I’d be all over that costume, too.

However, I did go on to study at university and am under no illusion I will be a princess (but I still wear ridiculous shoes).

With the utter chaos that is splashed across every news outlet, from genocide to domestic violence, melting ice caps and homelessness, a child’s sense of imagination is the perfect vehicle to protect their innocence. 

And if you’re against your child wearing princess costumes, use it as an opportunity to educate your child, not take away the right to my child.

I'll be sure to encourage my daughter to strive to be whatever she wants, even in a princess costume.

Originally published as 'If my daughter wants to dress up as a princess I'm not going to stop her'