The 'Princess Treatment' Trend: Chivalry or Outdated Expectations?

Debating the 'Princess Treatment' Trend

• 👑 The "princess treatment" trend on TikTok, popularized by creator Courtney Palmer, involves women expecting partners to perform traditionally chivalrous or subservient actions.
• 💡 While some aspects like receiving flowers or having doors opened are seen as harmless kindness, Palmer's more extreme examples are drawing criticism.

Palmer's Version of 'Princess Treatment'

• 🚗 Palmer describes not interacting with restaurant hostesses, having her husband handle all logistics, and waiting in the car while he arranges entry.
• 👟 She also claims her husband ties her shoes to foster her femininity and his masculinity, a concept met with strong disagreement.
• 🍽️ A key point of contention is the idea of a partner ordering food for the woman without prior communication, which is viewed as infantilizing.

Distinguishing Chivalry from Control

• ✨ Chivalry and kindness, such as opening doors or giving a coat to a partner, are generally accepted as positive gestures.
• ⚠️ Actions like not speaking to service staff or having shoes tied are criticized as demeaning and indicative of an unhealthy power dynamic.
• 🙅‍♀️ The hosts argue that such behaviors can make a woman feel like a child rather than a respected partner.

The Appeal of Decision Avoidance

• 🏖️ A more understandable aspect of the "princess treatment" is the desire to avoid making decisions, particularly when one is already overwhelmed with planning in other areas of life.
• ✈️ This is exemplified by the hosts agreeing that on vacation or "guys trips," they are happy to let someone else take the lead and make all the choices.
• ✅ When embracing "princess mode," the expectation is to accept whatever decision is made, finding peace in relinquishing control.

Host Disagreement and Personal Boundaries

• 🗣️ While one host finds the idea of a partner ordering food for her indifferent, the other strongly opposes it, viewing it as irrational and potentially leading to the wrong order.
• 🙅‍♂️ The act of being told to tie someone's shoelaces is a firm "red line" for one host, recalling a negative experience during fraternity pledging.
• 👍 Ultimately, while extreme interpretations of the "princess treatment" are deemed "cray cray," the underlying desire to not make decisions in certain contexts is relatable.