The Sad Socioeconomic Truths About Disney Princesses

Posted by Kevin Farrell on Nov 10, 2011 in Pop | 41 comments

“I’m just a girl,” cried the heroines of a century’s worth of Disney films. The moral of these stories? Girls are otherwise worthless walking vaginas.

(Click to enlarge)

UB reader Lexi sums it all up best with her comment:

Well we can always ignore them and focus on Mulan, but of course she did have to pretend to be a guy in order to …..oh never mind! :/

Thoughts?

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QGQFPSGMS44IM2BGGX6TEHLJWM Lexi

Well we can always ignore them and focus on Mulan, but of course she did have to pretend to be a guy in order to …..oh never mind! :/

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_APE7HYKKB7RLJAYIWTANXRCEJM Lily

But after it was revealed that Mulan was a girl and she pretty much single handedly saved China’s collective ass, they still accepted her and revered her as a hero, even offering her a position as an advisor to the emperor.

http://www.facebook.com/michaelrcooke Michael Cooke

Homophobia is two distinct things:
1 hatred of homosexuality as a function of relatedness.2 Sexism

It’s relatedness if you are the anti gay Senator discovered in bed with a rent-boy.

It’s sexism if a guy being effeminate isn’t irrelevant or an advantage, because far more women are effeminate and have the same, albeit less obvious because it is so ubiquitous, negative associations with themselves as well.

It’s sexism if the mere idea of another man looking appreciating your ass causes you to panic or become full of rage. Because what is ‘demeaning’ isn’t the attention, it’s that ‘effeminate’ role played out as the object of masculine desire – and it’s homophobic and sexist (perhaps a confession that you are a man who believes he diminishes women with his attention) if you cannot allow it to not matter.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Benjamin-Spiderm/100000682860873 Benjamin Spiderm

Yet missing Atlantis, Princess and the Frog, Tangled (cast iron is mightier then the sword).
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=503692058 Lomika Douglas

I disagree about Belle if you actually watch beauty and the beast you will see that Belle has more than sex to offer she offers her intelligence and kind heart, it’s the reason she ignores Gaston because he’s an idiot and self centered. He just sees her sex, the beast however sees past her beauty he see’s how kind she is and her intelligence they even read together. You don’t see this kind of bonding with any of the other princesses and their men specifically cinderella and snow white spend the least amount of time with their princes. Although I cannot argue with Ariel’s description she did drastically change her appearance for a man. She changed her entire world.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Kerry-Nelson/100000482891678 Kerry Nelson

Totally agree with this sentiment. Belle was able to actually gain the beast’s love, not with sex or beauty, but with her intelligence, kindness and wit. In the end, he was saved by her, not through sex or beauty, but by love. And real love requires far more than appearance or physical interaction.

http://unicornbooty.com Unicorn Booty

“There must be something there that wasn’t there before!”
http://www.facebook.com/avehooper Avery L. Hooper

i love what u said: “real love requires far more than appearance or physical interaction.”

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001429209152 Shay Summer

I agree with this. But as far as all the other princesses go….Yeah, they were kind of pathetic. Mulan was awesome, and she was, by far, one of the best.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Kerry-Nelson/100000482891678 Kerry Nelson

Yup. Mulan, Belle and, most recently, Rapunzel have finally began to show a bit of girl power instead of simply wishing and waiting for someone to rescue them.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Kerry-Nelson/100000482891678 Kerry Nelson

Yup. Mulan, Belle and, most recently, Rapunzel have finally began to show a bit of girl power instead of simply wishing and waiting for someone to rescue them.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1490070214 Sarah Riser

I happen to be watching Mulan at the moment. She’s always been my favorite. Why? Cause she saved all of China.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1465973376 Tiffany Wilson

Indeed, unlike the others, she went to war in place of her father, willing to dishonor her family in order to keep them safe.

http://www.facebook.com/dtilling David C Tilling

I totally agree, and the princess from Aladdin defies social and political rules to hook up with a guy well below her status
http://profiles.google.com/lmcaldwellhurd Lynn Caldwell-Hurd

Maybe we watched two different movies. Wasn’t Belle imprisoned by the Beast? Whether they “fell in love” or she fell victim to Stockholm Syndrome is I guess a matter of interpretation.

http://www.facebook.com/daneyosh Dane Kenichi Yoshimura

I’m sorry but Disney has irradiated, mutated, and castrated many original stories. Look at Cinderella, in the older forms of the story the prince was so dumb he couldn’t even remember what she looked like. Her sisters had to mutilate themselves to fit the damn shoe. This sort of furthers the whole yeah they’re sexist but at least keep the verisimilitude. Sleeping beauty in the older versions is raped and while sleeping gives birth to twins. Somehow they manage to suckle on her finger and remove the poisoned piece. The “Little mermaid” as part of her cosmetic transformation feels red hot knives stabbing her feet with each step and then she dies in the end. The “wicked stepmother” that wanted “rose red” i mean sleeping beauty dead actually dies because she’s forced in red hot shoes. Literally they’re made of iron and left in a fire and she dances till she dies. *insert either witty comment about clubbing here or statement about your favorite pair of red hot shoes.* Don’t even start me on pinocchio that walking piece of tinder was a jackass. Many of these stories are just artifacts of an age of patriarchical misogyny repackaged in the tender soft packing peanuts of commercialism and child friendly animation. But i’m serious on Pinocchio that fucker deserved the mugging and the hanging…He killed the cricket…

http://www.facebook.com/people/Falon-Benham/100000474244780 Falon Benham

I would never let my children watch the Disney version of any of these, because they are so distorted. I’d rather them read the original stories. They’re much better anyway! Just like Alice in Wonderland (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland; 1865 Lewis Carroll, and Through the Looking-Glass; 1871 Lewis Carroll).

http://www.facebook.com/GraysonBakerFriend Grayson Baker Friend

It’s all silliness. So sick of the Disney princess bashing. These women are all the heroines of their respective stories. If we are going to pretend that there is a political statement being made, why can’t we look at the positive statements about how women can choose their own paths instead of going down the road that was pre-paved for them. Also, these comments are rubbish. Especially about Ariel. To say she changed her appearance to be more attractive to a man is the biggest crock of shit in the world. She changed her form to be able to explore whole new worlds. And seriously don’t be Disney bashing on the gay site. I’ll bet you I am not the only one who wanted to be like the Princesses when I was little.
http://www.facebook.com/g.alex.fox Khai Fox

i think each princess had her own virtue that had nothing to do with their physical beauty. you can see that or you can choose to see this.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Terri-Hannon/528883700 Terri Hannon

Not one is of legal adult age either. They are all children.
Snow White –15
Belle Ariel, Cinderella, Jasmine – under 18 – a minor, living with parent/guardian/step parent
Aurora – just turned 16

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_APE7HYKKB7RLJAYIWTANXRCEJM Lily

I heard Snow White was 13, which is why she’s so underdeveloped.

Anonymous

Not all of these are accurate. For example, Ariel did not change her appearance in order to be more attractive, she changed her physical form so she could be close to the man she loved. Also, how did Belle save Adam’s life with her sexuality? She did it with her love, which is in no way the same thing.
http://www.facebook.com/LunaDW Dominique DoubleBlack Mitchell

What about the Princess and the Frog?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Kat-Dodson/100001225054613 Kat Dodson

I disagree about Belle, mostly, but I think you should give Jasmine and Ariel more credit, too. In fact, you may even want to give their princes a little more credit; they were clearly not all shallow pigs.
Belle was obviously intelligent and a powerful personality, as is displayed by her self-education through books (which other women rarely read), the way she questioned and rebelled against authority, and acts of courage, such as sacrificing herself for her father. Furthermore, we rarely, if ever, see the Beast drooling over her appearance. Rather, he seems taken with her kindness and their mutual interests (such as books).

Jasmine, similarly to Belle, shows that she thinks for herself and is also a powerful personality. She rebels against the social norms of the time by asserting her right to marry someone she loves. She doesn’t come off as a dingbat– the first time Aladdin saves her in the street, she understands what he’s doing immediately and begins collaborating with him. Although she does not succeed, she attempts to defy authority by demanding her father’s guards free her new friend. For his part, Aladdin does start out enamored with Jasmine’s physical appearance, but I think his behavior after he gets to know her better somewhere in the middle of the movie indicates that he begins to value her for more than that.

Now Ariel… Eh. She has some ding-batty qualities. Then again, she does display curiosity (her fascination with human artifacts) and open-mindedness (her assertion that all humans cannot be bad), qualities which are rarely present in unintelligent people. Like Belle and Jasmine, she too defies social norms by asserting her right to marry someone she loves, no matter what his species. My memory of the end of the movie is foggy, but I seem to remember that she in some way collaborated with Eric in taking down Ursula. On the prince’s part, Eric obviously finds Ariel (and her voice) to be beautiful. However, from watching the movie, one can see that he is also charmed by her personality and her kindness (she did save him from drowning, remember?). Also, if he were the chauvinistic pig you’re assuming he is, he would have raped her as she laid helpless and half-naked on the beach. Instead, he carries her to his home and offers her food, shelter, and clothing. Clearly he too is a kind and decent person.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Kat-Dodson/100001225054613 Kat Dodson

Okay. I’ve realized that my point about Eric not taking advantage of Ariel is in fact irrelevant because it was a Disney movie and that wasn’t even an option in the script. But it is still true that there was a helpless person, he was in no way obligated to help them, and he helped them anyway, even though he could have ignored them and kept walking. He’s a nice guy.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Kat-Dodson/100001225054613 Kat Dodson

*lay
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_FOLTF3LFCO35QKMPNWOWFR6RUI Miguel Sosa

I just want to point out that the “Disney princesses ” are not actually Disney’s princesses. they are based on old stories. ALL OF THEM. most are from the Grimm’s stories and Aladdin is from the Arabian Nights

http://www.facebook.com/people/Heather-DeFabis/100000396101693 Heather DeFabis

Disney may not have written their stories, but their interpretation and redesign of the characters makes them legal property of Disney. It’s called a Copyright.

http://profiles.google.com/starfishdarling J. Oldham

Once you wrap your heads around Disney’s princesses, consider how many mothers Walt’s…um…eliminated.
Anonymous

Clever…
http://twitter.com/OohLaLayla Layla S

I don’t understand why we have to break down Disney movies like this. I realize these aren;t the original stories, and yes, Disney made less dark then the original stories, but I LOVE them, and so do my kids. That’s really all that matters to me. We gotta stop taking these things so seriously. Millions, if not billion sof people treasure these movies and these Princesses, and I see nothing wrong with that.

Anonymous

Yes but there something to be said what they put across. And if you think children down pick up on theme that being pretty means a happy life, your wrong. On general you seem short sighted. You say all that matters is that you and your children like them, but don’t question if they’re actually good for your children. I like Disney movies a lot, but Disney has a long standing tradition og prejudice and sexism.When let them know that were a issue with their theme, Disney will change them. As you can see in the more modern movies. But you can be apathetic if you want, I just suggest not complaining that other people actually care about the messages that movies send. It’s not really a good look.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_FOLTF3LFCO35QKMPNWOWFR6RUI Miguel Sosa

Jasmine and Ariel. hmmm, completely braved against their fathers and cultures to follow what they wanted. Jasmine wanted someone to love her for things other then just her money Ariel wanted to become human. yep, that’s oppression. Jasmine wasn’t even the main protagonist, it’s Aladdin. I do recall Ariel saving the day in the little mermaid. what would be pro-women? Ariel sitting at home with 100 catfish, fat and with hairy armpits, would that be more pro-women? hey i have an Idea! let’s force women to wear veils over their faces, better yet cover up their whole bodies.
Oh and let’s not forget Mulan who saved an entire kingdom almost single handed.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Alex-Daniel/100000247296429 Alex Daniel

Your coment about Ariel sitting at home with 100 catfish and hairy armpits made my day! By the way, you are true. Just because Snow White and Aurora married the first guy they saw after waking up, it doesn’t mean all the Disney princesses set a bad example.

http://www.facebook.com/IsraeliPrincess19 אַריעל פּרינצעסין

hopefully younger girls dont realize this. You shouldnt have to be beautiful to get a man but i still love all the movies
http://www.facebook.com/people/Karen-Burch/545674683 Karen Burch

Strongly disagree about Belle – she saved his life with love, a force much greater than sexuality ever will be.
http://www.facebook.com/dianasmortuary13 Diana Miquiztli Reyna

the only princess i ever liked was xena: warrior princess.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002142260853 Junon Alexander Reeve

Well for the people who are trying to break all of this down and make it complicated… Stop it you bored ass bums… Get off your ass and do something interesting like take archery classes. Instead of trying to degrade everything that you dont like just shut the hell up and do something. These stories are innocent by nature. If you really want to know the moral of these stories it this. Its good to love and its good to be smart and use it. And when life comes around with evil. (which it does believe it or not) you need to be ready to use your wit and intelligents and use YOUR LOVE IN WHICH GOD GAVE YOU to better your situations and forgive. All of you really should be damn ashamed of yourselves.
Miggy Ternate

Mulan is not in the picture! thats good coz I love her!

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1374175740 KyCx Leano

i agree!!

Miggy Ternate

Mulan is the best! thank goodness shes not here! lol

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