Don’t ask me where or when I read this, but there are a lot of angry parents out there. Angry mothers specifically. Mom’s who don’t want their daughters to grow up watching Disney movies because the Princesses are “weak characters who need a man to rescue them”. They deny their daughters princess costumes and avoid the color pink like most people (should) avoid crocs.
Now, to each her own, and you certainly don’t need a shiny princess dress to pretend you’re a princess, but I for one happen to love fairy tales both Disney and otherwise. So I thought about it and I’d like to point out that each of the Disney “Princesses” (let’s be honest, not all of them were royalty) has a specific issue they address and their stories can make a great jumping off point for meaningful conversations.
**Before proceeding you should also note that I do not believe in Disney sequels. I am a Disney Purist, which means these so called “sequels” do not exist anymore than Star Wars I-III exist. (Someday I am going to be a very selective mother.)
1. Let’s start from the oldest of the old school. Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora. These ladies get a bad rap because they’re extremely old fashioned (meaning they clean house and wait for their men to
I know Snow White is usually everyone’s least favorite. But really she was kind of ahead of her time. Meaning she lived a very simple life, something people are only catching onto in recent years. She enjoys taking care of her small cottage, singing, and spending time with the people she loves. Snow White would totally be down with the tiny house movement and minimalism. Snow White = my hero.
You go girl.
2. Okay but what about more important issues? Disney Princesses fight for what they believe in, and each one, in a real life modern day setting would support a cause. Belle is a lot of people’s favorite and mine too for one very special reason: she loves to read. How awesome is that? Belle is like a Champion for Literacy. Raise your hand if you loved Belle and connected with her passion for books? The Beast gives her a library? Best. Gift. Ever.
Jasmine and Rapunzel are all about independence. I think they would be best friends in real life. They would fight for women’s rights at home and abroad. Pretty cool ladies.
Pocahontas: environmentalism. You can’t watch Pocahontas and not want to go running through the woods with the wind at your back. And I don’t even like running. You also don’t have to believe in tree spirits to see value in appreciating and caring for the environment.
Tiana is a woman who knows what she wants: to run her own small business. Women running the workplace, in leadership positions, CEOs, and young girls can take a lesson from Tiana.
3. There are a couple of forgotten characters that don’t get mentioned as often: Mulan and Esmeralda. Mulan is brave and creative when it comes to defending her country, proving that women too have a place on the battlefield.
Esmeralda is one of my personal favorites. Not only is she a sexy bombshell with a heart of gold but she stands up for oppressed minorities when no one else will. That takes guts. Once again, proving that women who care can make a difference.
The only princess I’m having trouble finding a redeeming quality about is Ariel. Don’t get me wrong, The Little Mermaid was the first Disney movie I ever owned (poofy case, still have it). I love Ariel. But girlfriend has some problems. For one thing she’s really materialistic, she keeps collecting more and more stuff so she can feel human. Does that sound familiar America? Secondly, she falls for Prince Eric pretty hard and pretty fast. There’s really no reason except he’s a good looking homosapien, which is kind of her thing. Then she changes herself so she can be with him, a decision which forever separates her from her family. It’s kind of…needy. And ill advised. And it reminds me of someone…who, who does it remind me of? Oh yeah.
I know some people who have a problem with Ariel’s rebellious ways and the witchcraft in the movie, and if you want to have a conversation about that with your kiddoes, by all means. But I still love Ariel. I guess we need to include her to remind ourselves that love requires sacrifice and that material wealth can’t fill the need in your soul. She’s like a mirror we can look in from time to time when we need to. Are you acting like Ariel? Yes? Stop it and do the opposite. (Feel free to sing like Ariel all you want.)
Keep in mind that the princesses were also products of their times. If nothing else Disney Princesses are a fascinating study of the cultural shift in female perspectives and expectations. And they sing amazing songs. How can you not love them?
So if you’ve read this entire entirely random post, bravo and thank you! May your day be magical and may all your dreams come true!
Shout out to Giselle, because Enchanted made me believe that Disney still had some magic left.
