Disney Princesses Are Bad Role Models For Young Girls

To start off, many of the older princesses are a victim of their times, both the time period in which their stories were set and the times during which their stories were created by Walt Disney. Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, both written in 1697 by Frenchman Charles Perrault, were written and set in times when women were expected to be obedient. So in the case of Cinderella, especially, one can easily understand her supposed "weakness" and inability to stand up for herself against her wicked stepmother, the antagonist of the story, and to refuse to act as the servant of the household. Cinderella's step-mother was named "Lady Tremaine," which means that she is likely the daughter of a Duke, a Marquess, or an Earl, and as such, likely had political power over her new step-daughter after her husband's death, inheriting the role of "head of household" until she remarried. Furthermore, in Sleeping Beauty, it is really the circumstances of the character, as opposed to the character herself, that is bad. Having been raised in a small cabin in the woods, she was not allowed much opportunity to learn how to be independent. Her castle is a strange place, her parents are strange people, and everything around her becomes suddenly unfamiliar when she is whisked back to the king and queen's palace. On her sixteenth birthday, a spell placed upon her by sources outside of her control renders her helpless, leaving her to sleep until "true love's kiss" comes to break the spell. Aurora is never given a chance to save herself and thus has no choice but to play the role of "damsel in distress." Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, as another example, was originally written in 1812 by the Brothers Grimm, another time when women truly did not have any rights at all. Though significant advancements in the women's suffrage movement were made in the nineteenth century, nearly all of them came after this fairy tale was written. In the 1800's women did not have any freedom whatsoever, and any liberation they could hope to experience would have to come from a man, likely one with express political authority, like a prince. Aside from the circumstances of their times, each princess exhibits certain positive qualities that outweigh the negative ones. The early princesses – Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora – epitomize kindness, optimism, appreciation for what they have, and a willingness to dream. Though they were valued far more in the twentieth century, these are characteristics that can and should be esteemed regardless of the time. And as for Rapunzel, the newest addition to the Disney Princess lineup, she, much like Aurora, is a victim of her circumstance – having been locked away in a tower for her eighteen years of existence. In this, her naivety and unadulterated innocence seem completely understandable. She knows absolutely nothing of the world outside of what she is told by Mother Gothel, Rapunzel's "mother" figure and the only other person she has ever known. When Flynn Rider enters Rapunzel's life, it only makes sense that she has no idea how to handle meeting another person, especially a man. Not knowing much about anything, mainly due to Mother Gothel's sheltering and overbearing overprotection, Rapunzel decides to bargain with this strange man – after already having defended herself against his intrusion by knocking him out with a frying pan – and live out her dreams of seeing the lanterns fly on her birthday. This may require disobedience of Mother Gothel's express orders to not leave the castle, but headstrong, courageous, and – like all princesses – determined to follow her dream, Rapunzel goes anyway. Along the way, she and Flynn become a team, learning, growing, and fighting, together. While she may have started out as a "damsel in distress," Rapunzel eventually comes into her own and saves both herself and her "prince."