It is a truth universally acknowledged that Walt Disney was the master of turning dreams into reality. He was a tireless dreamer who believed anything was possible even when all the odds were against him. This progressive attitude shows in his innovative animated features such as "Snow White," "Bambi," and "Dumbo," which all employed techniques that are still used in this modern age of animation. Perhaps, one of Disney's most popular achievements are the Disney Princess films.
The Disney Princesses are widely popular with both children and adults because of their timeless stories, catchy songs, and wonderfully drawn animation. However, critics of the Disney Princesses often claim that the princesses aren't good role models for young girls since they employ stereotypical feminine traits and perpetuate unfair standards of beauty.
While I agree that the princesses do have unfair beauty standards and many of their branded products reflect traditional feminine roles, however, it is unfair to say that their traits, such as kindness and gentility, are lacking in the strength department. What troubles me is that we don't believe these women to be strong because they possess these traits.
We only believe a woman is strong when she adopts traditionally masculine traits and enacts them. It's like saying that in order for a woman to be accepted as a strong woman she needs to act like a man, which then devalues her own femininity in favor of masculinity. This way of thinking is overtly sexist as it tells women that it is only men who possess true strength and in order to be seen as strong they must shed their own identities as women.
However, if we were to watch the Disney Princess movies actively rather than passively, we would actually see how powerful and heroic these women are.
Each princess possesses an individual strength that drives them towards their goal and helps them play an active role within the story.
For Cinderella, it was her active kindness and imagination that helped her achieve her goal of finally being able to be free from the work of her household.
For Belle, it was her intelligence and ability to see through the exterior of others.
For Ariel, it was her curiosity and spirit that pushed her to pursue her dream of being able to experience life on land.
For Jasmine, it was the desire to have agency over life and ability to marry for love.
I could go on into more detail about the individual strengths of each princess but I think you don't want to read a 15-page article.
While we could argue that Mulan sacrificed her femininity in order to save her father from serving in the military, it is important to remember that she did it because of pressures from society. Because she is seen as weak and dainty by them, it was imperative for her that she adopt the identity of Ping so that she may serve honorably in the military and restore honor to her family.
However, Mulan proves that femininity does not equal weakness, to quote the film: "You said you trust Ping; why is Mulan any different?"
What's funny to me is that people don't see these Disney ladies as fully developed characters when, in reality, they are. Each of them have thoughts, opinions, ideas, likes and dislikes, ambitions and emotions. They play an active role within their stories and know when they are being taken advantage of and speak up about it. It is unfair for us, the watcher, to accept the views of others and transpose them upon a character who has been created with much love and attention.
I think it is time we teach our young ladies to be kind and gentle, but also teaching them not to allow anyone to take advantage of them. It is disturbing to me that we see values such as kindness as naive and silly; it is now more important than ever to practice active kindness and compassion. The Disney Princesses are the perfect role models for girls because they teach kindness and gentility, but also teach the values of bravery, imagination, intelligence, spirit, and inner strength.
Stop demonizing femininity: you just look like a big ole' sexist
