DEC 23 — I don’t want my daughter, Athena, to be a princess and I pray every day that this idea will never be planted in her head. It scares me to think that she will have a room filled with pink objects, frilly dresses, silver and diamond tiaras and girly “wedding” gowns.

Some of you might say that is what being a girl is all about. But I beg to differ because the princess complex goes way deeper than pink toys.

Can you tell me one princess story that doesn’t involve a girl suffering or pining for a handsome Prince Charming to come rescue her?

Think about it. Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel… they’re all the same helpless girl who needs a man whom she has never met to rescue her.

What? You mean to tell me that a girl can’t do anything herself to improve her situation and quality of life?

Can you also tell me one princess story where Prince Charming falls for a girl who writes beautiful prose, is a committed human rights activist, or a doctor for the poor?

Struggling, aren’t you? Well, all the Princes Charming fell for the prettiest and fairest in all the land. What shallow princes they were!

Athena would have no chance. She has tanned-brown skin because she just loves swimming in the pool (well, my skin isn’t exactly “fair and lovely” either!).

And do you remember the Little Mermaid? She actually agreed to lose her voice for a chance to be with her Prince Charming. Can you believe that?

He’s already into you just for skin-deep reasons, now you actually have to sacrifice your voice for this guy? Who, by the way, isn’t even voicing his objections.

All I want is for little Athena to be self-confident, self-assured, brave, independent and happy to be the way she is.

So I try my hardest to shade her from all this negative princess complex influence. But it can be extremely difficult.

Everywhere, someone will call her a little princess or she’ll go to school and see her friends in princess dresses. And don’t get me started on the devil that is Disney!

Disney thrives as a business because of the way they manipulate little girls all around the world through their movies, cartoons and toys.

It also doesn’t help that the media is filled with modern-day, contemporary princesses like Miley Cyrus, Paris Hilton and the über-ultimate irritating Kardashians.

Now some of you are going to argue that girls can be little princesses and strong, independent and self-assured at the same time.

Stop right there while I say no to you! Girls are already facing so much pressure living in this man’s world and having to be perfect.

Now you want to add to all that by telling them that they need to be a nuclear scientist and Malaysia’s next top model as well?

I definitely know that I’m far from being the perfect parent and I do realise it’s impractical for me to protect Athena forever.

But, I will try my best to at least make sure she is stable enough as a person before she gets exposed to the evils of the world so she will be strong enough to resist.

* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.