When I was little I watched almost every single Disney movie from "Atlantis" to "Flubber", "George of the Jungle" to "Freaky Friday." I embraced the Disney culture. In particular, I loved watching the Disney princess movies. These included "Mulan," "Beauty and the Beast," "Snow White," and many more. A great misconception and debate among parents is whether or not children now should be watching Disney movies, particularly those containing princesses and themes of romance. Some parents that think their children shouldn’t be watching these movies argue that they portray women as being damsels in distress, showing them as not being able to defend themselves and having men sweep them off of their feet. However, what they are overlooking are the parts where characters like Mulan, Belle, and Pocahontas are actually very empowered women. They show bravery, compassion, and independence in their choices of defending and supporting others, as well as choosing their own paths in life.
1. Mulan
"Mulan," a classic Disney movie made in 1998, is about a brave, young Chinese girl who takes her father’s place to fight in the Chinese military. Due to the recruitment of only men, Mulan has to take the role of a man, cutting her hair and hiding her feminine attributes. Not only did she sacrifice herself for her family in order to keep dignity in her father’s name, but she proved to herself and others that a woman is capable of being just as strong and determined as a man. Mulan defied all gender stereotypes and provided girls everywhere with the idea that they are capable of doing anything they put their minds to.
2. Beauty and the Beast
In "Beauty and the Beast," Belle works at a bookstore while living with and caring for her father, Maurice. While in town, a very buff and confident man by the name of Gaston tries to court her, but she is not attracted to his superficial personality and looks. Instead, she ends up living with a beast that whom she teaches how to be kind and loving. Not only did I learn a lesson from Belle, but as a kid I also learned a lesson from the beast and his actions. This movie shows how important it is to be kind and forgiving, two lessons that are vital to learn as an adolescent.
3. Pocahontas
In "Pocahontas," a young American Indian living in the New World, is asked by her father Chief Powhatan to marry Kocoum whom she refuses. Instead, Pocahontas falls in love with a Captain John Smith, a white male in search of this New World. Though the others he travels with have bad intentions, ultimately John Smith falls in love with Pocahontas. This young woman displays great bravery when she jumps in front of her father trying to execute him. She shows everyone at the end how important it is to accept all people and to show compassion to those even if they are different. Pocahontas is an independent woman, one that in the end makes her own decisions instead of allowing others to make them for her. She is a Disney character who young girls everywhere should aspire to be.
These three movies alone show strong, independent, wise-beyond their years women of different ethnicities and backgrounds. Each display bravery in saving their country, family, and loved ones, while teaching others how to be accepting and compassionate. Each one of these women defied stereotypes and proved to young girls everywhere what it means to be a woman.
If it hadn’t been for Mulan, I probably wouldn’t have been as competitive in gym class in school. Belle made me determined to learn to love reading and to be kind to others. Pocahontas taught me that you should follow your heart and remind people of what it means to be accepting of others. In sum, when I am a mother, I plan to show these movies to my children, and I hope they give them the same kinds of motivation they provided to me and my generation.
