Unless your religion prohibits access to a television, everyone my age has seen a Disney movie before. From the classic Cinderella tale to going under the sea with Ariel, we've all seen our share of female princesses and heroines and damsels in distress. For me, I still swoon for the ever-popular Beauty & the Beast and its fantastical ending. However, Disney movies have always held too much sway over our lives.
In Tina Fey's Bossypants, readers see Fey's daughter already has the notion that blonde hair is better as she's drawn to Aurora from Sleeping Beauty (22). Although we don't notice as kids, Disney films have always portrayed and reinforced certain feminine standards while discouraging other traits. While Disney's standards have been more inclusive recently, let's reexamine both the heroines and villains in our precious childhood movies:
- Ursula, a villain from The Little Mermaid, could make us associate being evil with being curvy and hefty. Ask yourself this: is there a heroine with Ursula's fabulous figure? I think not.
- Meg in Hercules is treated as purely a sexual interest, Hercules is attracted almost solely to her appearance, and her intelligence is only utilized to deceive the protagonist. Beauty > personality.
- Even though Merida from Brave had a much more realistic, attainable appearance and intriguing personality in the film, the toy line that Disney had at one point distributed had a much more sexualized version of Merida for sale. Even though they seemed to be making progress, Disney still wanted to market the beauty standards they truly idealize for princesses.
 |
| Movie Merida vs. Original Toy Merida. THE DIFFERENCE IS INSANE. |
Again, Disney is making some progress nowadays, but we need a movie with a plus-size princess and more princesses with their personalities being sought after instead of their petite waists because these movies are shaping the next generation. My own generation is brimming with girls dreaming of slender bodies who hate their size 4 frames, girls who are willing to starve for these Disney princess bodies. As a little girl, Disney should've given me a woman with glasses and a face that isn't heart-shaped and maybe I would've felt okay in my own skin. For the little girls today, I wish for more inclusive princesses and heroines with amazing personalities who encourage wittiness, a good sense of humor, and especially attainable appearances. In fact, one day Disney could be our great champion of beauty standards instead of an obstacle to overcome, and one day we will all feel like princesses.
This is a topic that is in much need of discussion, particularly because of the sheer amount of young girls who are exposed to and, in their little girl ways, are obsessed with Disney princesses! While Disney has, in recent years, given us a black princess from Louisiana (Tiana) and an Asian warrior princess (Mulan), I still am left asking the same questions you are. Where are their pouches? You know, the little pouch of tummy-chub that sits right over our lady-organs. Or their wide, womanly hips? Where are their round faces and not-so-hourglass-shaped frames? Are you telling me that ALL Disney princesses have super fast metabolism and great structural genes? There is NO way. I won't believe it. As someone who loved Disney movies as a child, and still do, it was extremely difficult for me to be exposed to all kinds of princesses of all the same size and none that looked like, well, me. If there were more "thicc" Disney princesses, ones with thighs that touched each other and arms that were more like branches than toothpicks, I believe I may have struggled less with body image issues at such a young age. Like you, I hope for a more diverse, representative future for the young girls who now adore Elsa (another pale, thin, blue-eyed princess who might be gay, but is still currently in the closet).
ReplyDeleteWell said! It seems like for every step forward Disney takes in terms of inclusivity, they take two steps backward. Why are Disney executives so scared to feature princesses and girls who have attainable shapes? Hopefully, Disney will become more conscious of how they are affecting young girls and boys with the way they present "ideal beauty" in the future.
ReplyDeleteHolly,
ReplyDeleteI agree that this is absolutely a topic that needs to be brought up to attention more often. These movies are directed towards younger children, an age that is full of growth and learning. Girls would already be judging themselves at such an impressionable age and that opinion of themselves would only grow with them into adulthood. I agree with you that Disney is definitely making some improvements with films such as Moana, where a more relatable body figure is portrayed.
I think this was a really interesting thing to write about. This is very true Disney princesses do have really unattainable looks. However my favorite princess was Mulan. This is because she saves China, she dresses like a man, she's not afraid of who she is and thats everything I want to be. However I find that the princess also set unrealistic standards for men, and yes this is a feminist class but the princes are always buff guys, not every guys can attain that figure. It also sets the tone for how women should be treated. Even though we should be treated with respect, that isn't always what happens to the princesses in the movies. I mean Prince Charming literally doesnt even remember what Cinderella looks like. What?!?!
ReplyDeleteI have thought about this a decent amount actually. And these standards of the perfect person are also upheld by many of the princes in Disney movies. My favorite Disney princess movies a child was Aladdin for in male protagonist. I didn't even realize it was a princess movie until much later. I do not think that Disney forces men into thinking that they need to be perfect the same way it does women because men are not seen as sexual objects nearly as much as women. But the societal standard is still there. There are also amazing shows out there with very average, more realistic looking people, like The Office which have done fantastically well for themselves. Disney, let us learn to keep our expectations realistic, and at least healthy.
ReplyDelete