Growing up all I did was watch Disney movies. I saw everything, from the underrated sequels, to the unmistakable classic, to the honorary non-Disney Disney movies (I'm looking at you Anastasia), to the greatest adventures my VHS and CD collection could offer, and I'd be lying if I said those movies didn't shape who I am today in some way. Thankfully, my parents never objected to me watching any of these movies, I mean, why would they? Why would parents object to their kid watching a movie meant for kids? And yet, I think we all know of a parent or two who refuses letting their sons watch a "girly" or princess movie based on the claim that those movies are just for girls. Parents have the right to choose how they raise their children, and I'm nowhere close to being a parent, but hear me out for a second. Young boys (and girls) should be able to watch any kind of kid's movies, and here's why.
While almost all Disney movies have a feel-good follow-your-heart type of message, princess movies tend to be the ones that reinforce the notion that it's good to be a dreamer and that dreams can come true. Why should dreams be only for girls? Walt Disney himself was a dreamer. Granted that nowadays people are more aware of the fact that boys can be dreamers too and many movements are devoted to spreading the message "let boys be feminine", but it's still a work in progress; allowing and encouraging young boys to watch these movies that are considered feminine would be a huge step towards this movement. The movies showcase strong characters that are in touch with their feelings and deal with their emotions rather than pushing them aside.
Growing up with these influences on screen would have a great effect on young boys because it would help them embrace their feelings and know that doing can only make them stronger. Being sensitive is not a weakness; if put to good use, this "dreamer's mindset" could be the greatest strength for any young mind. A good example for this is an actual Disney character, Flynn Ryder (Eugene Fitzherbert if you will) from Tangled. Even though he is not a young boy, he does seem to believe that dreams are too "touchy-feely" for a manly man like him, but by the end of the movie he develops into a character that appreciates the importance of heartfelt dreams and his feelings towards life and himself, all because he comes across Rapunzel, aka the princess.
Boys ought to have dreams, and seeing so many dreamers from a young age will help them grow up as such.
This takes me to my next point, the growing up. Disney movies have shaped entire generations, even in the subtlest ways, be it with princess movies or non-princess movies. Princess movies, however, give not only moral lessons but also something very important to show children: empowered and evolving characters, both female and male. Picture this, a 6-year-old girl in gym class, a football game with teams featuring both boys and girls. Suddenly, a boy walks up to her and speaks in that nasty way only a 6-year-old could, "you stay still and let the boys play", the girl is confused, baffled even. "And why is that?" she asks, "because girls can't play sports," says the little boy.
Taken aback by the pointless argument the girl says, "but Mulan saved China…she fought in the war with all the men. If she can do that I'm sure girls can play sports. That 6-year-old was me, and I never believed what sexist culture told me I could and couldn't do because I grew up watching movies like Mulan that featured strong, female leads. Now imagine if young boys grew up watching those movies. Rather than questioning a girl's abilities based merely on her being a girl, they would be used to the idea of empowered women. Not to mention the countless lessons princess movies offer.
From overcoming personal struggles with a positive outlook on life (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, Princess and the Frog), to putting aside prejudice when meeting people who are different from us (Pocahontas, Beauty and the Beast), to the importance of family and duty (Brave, Frozen, Moana), and most importantly knowing that we can be the heroes of our own stories. Personally, I grew up knowing that men could be heroes like Hercules and women could be heroines like Mulan, why shouldn't other children, especially boys, grow up knowing that?
We live in a time where things are changing. We are letting go of sexist stereotypes that hold us down and limit us as a human being, so let's keep teaching kids that. Let's teach girls and boys that just because a movie features songs sung by a princess it doesn't mean it's just for girls. Let's teach them to dream with all their little hearts because sometimes dreams are all we have, and no matter how hard life may get, we will always have our dreams. So let them be dreamers.
