Especially for 90's babies, Disney movies were an essential part of growing up. Beauty and the Beast taught us not to judge a book by its cover, The Lion King taught us to not dwell on the past, and Pocahontas taught us to listen to our heart.
But, no matter how hard it is to accept, Disney movies haven't always sent the most positive messages. Like the time they said:
1. You should sit patiently and wait for your true love to rescue you instead of taking charge of your own life.
When Snow White was in danger, she decided to run one or two miles (at most) into the woods outside of the castle and hide in a little cottage that she stumbled upon. Not only did she choose to not skip town, but she also answers the door for anyone without using any caution at all. When she took a bite out of the poison apple, the only thing in the entire world that could save her was true love's kiss. Sleeping Beauty was kind of in the same position after she pricked her finger on the spinning wheel- the prince had to come to her rescue with a magical kiss. Those endings are super romantic, but personally, that's not the epic ending I'd want in my fairy tale.
2. Villains are always easily recognizable
Smoky green entrances, a wicked laugh, scary eyes, a raspy voice, black hair, and maybe even a set of horns- those are components that all villains have, right? Maybe in Disney movies. But in real life, evil is not nearly as obvious. For entertainment purposes, clearly labeling the "bad guy" is helpful, but it also inadvertently teaches us that a villain is pretty easy to identify and ultimately defeat. It's important to note that the good guy doesn't always win and the bad guy isn't always a dark and shadowy figure, despite what Disney movies seem to indicate.
3. As long as you get the girl/guy, nothing else really matters.
Ariel literally gives Ursula her beautiful voice in exchange for legs so that she can win over Prince Eric. There's a difference between making sacrifices to make your relationship work, and sacrificing everything you have for someone that might not even reciprocate your feelings. At the end of the movie, Ariel and Eric live happily ever after so apparently not being able to speak at all was a relatively small price to pay for love.
4. When life gets hard, just do what society says is best for you.
Todd and Copper from the Fox and the Hound were best friends when they were young. They defied all societal norms of the animal world and played together every day, even though they were natural-born enemies. As the movie went on, they were forced to go their separate ways because it was just easier to lead separate lives than to fight against what was expected of them.
5. If you're not rich, beautiful, and dressed like a princess, "prince charming" won't notice you.
Okay let's be real- if this guy is really your prince charming, shouldn't he take you seriously no matter what you look like? Cinderella's worn out clothes had to be magically transformed into a ballgown before the prince would give her the time of day, even though that was pretty much the only thing different about her. Before she met her fairy godmother, Cinderella was still equally beautiful, smart, and kind as she was afterwards. No one should ever think they're not good enough without extravagant clothes and a fancy car (or pumpkin).
