I am unabashedly proud of my Disney love. Multiple times I've been told how childish and silly it is, and specifically how the "lessons" in these stories weren't lessons at all.

Supposedly what I had seen on screen, and fervently admired all my life was now not suitable. Disney, especially the first generation of princesses (Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty) were bottom tier literature, at best. But why? All I had ever learned from this line of women seemed to be helping me. No princess lesson had ever hurt me as bad as any snide comment or rude gesture had, so why should I abandon them now?

Because, according to society, these women were weak. In a time filled with girl power and the fight for women's rights, settling for the man and letting them save you simply wasn't enough to be considered a good role model for young girls. And I would agree with that statement, if that's all these princesses were.

Cinderella stands as my favorite, and not because of her pretty dress or Prince Charming, but because of all the life lessons and childhood fun she gave me. She taught me to work hard for what I wanted, to be kind to others no matter what they could offer in return, and most of all, it’s okay to want something that my friends may not. Cinderella wanted love, the Ugly Stepsisters wanted money, power and fame. So why can't Cinderella be a feminist just because she wanted to find somebody to spend her life with? That certainly doesn't make her any less of a hard worker. It doesn't change the way she treats her friends.

I'm tired of hearing that if you want to find someone to spend your life with, you can't be independent, successful or even care about your female rights. In the end, those things don't really correlate. Cinderella wanted a guy, but that's not all she wanted. Obviously the movie doesn't go on to explain the rest to us, but could such a dreamer really only dream one dream?

The real lesson to be learned from Cinderella and her cohorts is to go after whatever you want, regardless of what others say about it. Let them tell you love is silly or that art is a waste of time. Someone will always be there to say you eat too much or don't work enough. Cinderella is a feminist because she wasn't going to let anybody, not even the prince, walk all over her. Today's standards of love are far different than they were in 16th century France, or even 1950s America, but that doesn't mean looking for love in your life will hold you back. It could be just one step along the way to your successful, magical ending.