Mirror, Mirror: How Can We Fix the “Princess Problem” in the Workplace?

Drawing upon social cognitive theory and social learning theory, we introduce an engaging classroom activity that encourages students to critically address the enduring influence of early childhood narratives, such as fairy tales, on self-concept formation and workplace behavior. Using stories such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and The Little Mermaid as symbolic and analytic lenses, students engage in guided reflection to engage in guided reflection to surface the master narratives they have internalized and how these scripts can normalize passivity, dependence, obedience, and rigid gender roles. Anchored in experiential learning, the activity builds self-awareness, challenges ingrained assumptions, and fosters more adaptive, agentic, and inclusive workplace behaviors.