Peggy Orenstein's book, Cinderella Ate My Daughter, chronicles the author's journey through America's princess culture with her young daughter, Daisy. Beginning with Disney princesses, Orenstein comes to examine American Girl dolls, the "tween" market, Miley Cyrus, social media, beauty pageants, and of course, Barbie, all in the united effort to best understand the decisions she is making for her daughter. Acknowledging early on in Cinderella Ate My Daughter there is a battlefield of potential body issues, poor self-esteem, sexism, and issues of gender roles. Orenstein begins her book with an awareness for the road ahead in raising a girl.
It is evident in the text that Orenstein uses the rhetorical appeal of ethos, to justify the valid arguments she makes throughout the book. "The first princess items, released with no marketing plan.By 2009, they were at four billion dollars!"(18). Peggy explores the world of Disney princesses to understand the appeal it has on little girls, and the interpretation behind the princesses. Later in the meeting with Andy Mooney employee of the consumer products division, he reveals that there is a "genius" behind the princess. Mooney says, " Thats its meaning is so broadly constructed that it actually has no meaning" (17). Orenstein's use of credible information permits the reader to recognize concealed motives of company's products.
Orenstein's use of style is exceedingly effective in persuading the reader and informing the reader of the "girlie-girl" world. "Why has girlhood become so monochromatic.according to Jo Paoletti, an associate professor of American studies at the University of Maryland"(40). In the given quote, the sentence arrangement places emphasis on the idea or thought of the author allowing the information to resonate with the reader. The use of Orenstein's writing style provides a solid foundation to credit her research thus influencing the audience.