BEDA Blog #9 - Disney

I love Disney. I've grown up with all of the movies and they will forever be my favorites. As I've grown up and become more analytical about things (thanks honors English) I've noticed an interesting growth from the early princesses and the newest ones. If you watch the original three princess (Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty) you will notice that the main reason that their prince falls in love with them is because they are beautiful. These three and lovely, feminine and passive. They enjoy cleaning and singing and need to be taking care of. The idea of the perfect women, right? Wrong, these three show young girls that having ideas and opinions isn't necessary as long as you are pretty. Snow white never even speaks to her prince, he just loves her by seeing her apparently dead. Everyone regardless of gender should be valued for their ideas not just their looks. After these three the princesses became a little more bold. Belle, Ariel, and Jasmine are all opinionated and adventurous. Belle reads and Ariel collects little trinkets. They have hobbies because cleaning. However, when the princes come along, they back track slightly. The other reason Eric falls for Ariel is because she is lovely. They never even have a conversation so her can know how interesting she actually is. Jasmine is rebellious but she doesn't need too much. Aladdin still needs to rescue her, she is still a damsel in distress with an incredibly skimpy outfit, which is something we defiantly do not want little girls to emulate and glorify. In the end, they all still need a man to free them. This is where Disney shaped up. The next generations of Princesses are strong willed and feisty. Pocahontas, Mulan, Tatiana, and Rapunzel. While also being gutsy and independent, these characters also are proud of their heritage and family. They don't lose themselves because of a man. Pocahontas did not even leave with John Smith, a shocker for Disney with no real "and they lived happily ever after" Shang had to go after Mulan she didn't fall at his feet. Tatiana worked all her life to reach her dreams and Rapunzel fought off a bunch of thugs by herself. With a frying pan, beat that female stereotypes. These princesses can fend for themselves if necessary while also appreciating the men in their lives. This is what young girls should see, they can function alone but don't have to be alone. They should love and be strong, find that happy medium for them. I'm not saying the early princesses were bad, but they shouldn't be idolized as the perfect women. They should be seen as one type of women who has the ability to sing and clean and frolic with woodland creatures. They should be valued just as much as women to crave adventure.