What's with all the princess crap?

I've refrained from posting anything for over a month now, partly due to the fact that I can't think of anything that won't offed people, partly because I'm swamped.  Here goes.

I can't deal with the constant princess-ification of everything.

Kaiya turned 7 a month ago.  Among other things, such as puppies and beef jerky, she asked for a kids' telescope/microscope combo, Doctor Who's sonic screwdriver, a pair of binoculars for the zoo, and a trip to see Dinosaurs Alive.  What did she get?  Makeup and princess toys.  She still got some other really cool stuff, but it kind of stung a bit for people to ask what she wanted, be told in detail, then buy makeup and tell her she's a princess.

Maybe she doesn't want to be a freaking princess.  She told me today that she wants to be a Time Lord who helps animals.  I have an intelligent little girl who already knows she's beautiful, but also knows that looks aren't everything.

The next morning, she had already stripped the princess dolls of their dresses and accessories and declared that Merida would now be known as Amy Pond, Rapunzel had become Rose Tyler, and that Ken required a tiny bow tie so he could be the eleventh doctor.  Our shelter mutt ate the doll who would be Martha Jones, so I'll get on that next.

I know that we want our daughters to feel special and like they can do anything, but I feel that by calling them princesses we may be limiting them.  I don't want my girls to think they're dainty little damsels in distress who must look pretty and be rescued by a prince.  I want to raise strong, independent girls who can take care of themselves. The only princess with those qualities is Merida.  Before she got sluttified.

I can't remember ever buying anything with a princess on it, yet my house is overflowing with pink frilly things because people insist that my girls have to love these things.  Why?  Because they're girls!  It's not that I don't appreciate it when people buy things for my children, because I do.  But why not buy something that they actually want that costs less than the thing you want them to like?

I get that some girls are really into the princess thing, but mine aren't.  They like snakes, superheroes, climbing things, science fiction, volcanoes, and heavy metal.  They're not fragile little creatures who need saving.  They're awesome.