Newspaper says Disney Princesses are not good role models!

[Planogirl]

I like Fiona and I like a few of the Disney princesses. I also agree that the Disney princesses can perpetuate outdated stereotypes but how much impact do they really have? They are, as stated previously, just cartoon characters and I would imagine that even little girls learn to understand the difference.

I'm a bad example though because I was never a Princess type of girl. I much preferred superheroes. I didn't wear a mullet or any of the other bit brought up and frankly it bothers me to see people commenting on perceived looks when that seems to have little to do with the point of the article.

 

[Nana Annie]

Psssssst. People. They're cartoons. They really and truly aren't role models, nor were they ever meant to be. They are only animinated illustrations of storybook tales, nothing more. Gadzooks!

5 pages of people taking personally what one article says. Calling the author 'butch', a feminist???

All I can say is WOW!

Are all of you SO immersed in Disney that you take any negativity personally?

I'm not afraid of the children. I am afraid of the parents.

Cartoons and a theme park people. NOTHING more.

 

[TinkerBelle314]

Everyone has an opinion and has the right to voice it. That is what these boards are set up for. As a parent it is upsetting when there are people who try to tear apart something that is good and something that is supposed to make life more enjoyable for our children. For me it is more of a matter of someone trying to demoralize something that brings genuine and pure joy to children all over the world. I just want my kids to have the same wonderful memories of Disney as I did growing up. I would hate for someone to make those types of comments infront of my children and ruin the "magic" for they are young.

Obviously those of you who seem so disgusted that this forum has generated 5 pages must be somewhat interested, otherwise you woud not continue to read and add to it.

These are just my opinions and not intended to cause upset.

 

[maelstrom]

Given the choice between the Disney princesses and the Disney fairies, I have to say that the fairies are much better rolemodels. Princesses were either born to a king/queen, or married a prince. If they weren't born royalty, they dreamed of marrying a prince to become royalty. Then, as luck would have it, dashing prince comes to their rescue from whatever horrible situation they have gotten themselves into that they need rescuing from. Fairies have attitude and kick butt and do things for themselves. I like the princesses, I do, but not as rolemodels.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I didn't read the rest of the thread, I apologize.

This doesn't really have much to do with being a rolemodel, but I now agree that maybe Princesses aren't all they're cracked up to be. My 6 year old daughter came up to me the other day, sucked in her little belly, and said, "Don't I look skinny, mama?" Now, she is very thin and didn't have much to suck in and I was shocked that she even thought of it. I just said, "Why are you so interested in being skinny? You look beautiful no matter what." She replied to me, "Because I want to be a princess and all princesses are skinny."

I just didn't know how to respond to that.

 

[Pigeon]

I don't think the Disney princesses are particularly good role models for my daughers, with the possible exception of Hua Mulan. Even Fiona gives up everything about her life to become an ogre because Shrek is an ogre.

My kids are exposed to Disney and enjoy playing dress-up and pretend, but we also talk about the fact that the princesses are really pretty worthless in a lot of ways. We make sure that they are exposed to many strong female role models and not just princesses.

 

[ducklite]

I don't think the Disney princesses are particularly good role models for my daughers, with the possible exception of Hua Mulan. Even Fiona gives up everything about her life to become an ogre because Shrek is an ogre.

My kids are exposed to Disney and enjoy playing dress-up and pretend, but we also talk about the fact that the princesses are really pretty worthless in a lot of ways. We make sure that they are exposed to many strong female role models and not just princesses.

I agree with this 100%--almost. Pocahontas was another terrific role model, and Belle to a degree. And Esmerelda was a spitfire, although IMHO Hunchback isn't the most kid friendly of the Disney animateds.

Most of the other ones just show young women cooking, cleaning, and waiting for their prince to come. They are depicted as subservient to men, and not as strong women who are able to think for themselves and protect themselves from the evils in the world.

Anne

 

[Todd&Copper]

As far as them being poor role models, I am not sure if it is true across the board, but don't most little girls grow out of wanting to be a princess? I recently found some papers I wrote in 1st grade and I wanted to be a princess at age 18, a teacher at age 25, and a singer (a la Olivia Newton John) at 30. Well, I actually became a lawyer at 26. Are princesses really such terrible role models? Are they really enduring role models?

 

[Bob Slydell]

Psssssst. People. They're cartoons. They really and truly aren't role models, nor were they ever meant to be. They are only animinated illustrations of storybook tales, nothing more. Gadzooks!

 

[komondorok]

I used to pretend I was a horse growing up. I ran around whinnying and trotting arund with my hands held in front of me. My friends and I would pretend we were in shows and walk, trot, and canter in circles. We would set up jump courses and 'show.' We drove our parents loony!

My role models were Black Beauty, Misty, the Black Stallion, Flicka, etc.

However, I didn't grow up to eat oats and poop in the street. In fact, I can't stomach oatmeal

I have to agree that they are just cartoon characters and shouldn't be taken too seriously.

 

[diznygirl]

Well, my 4 yr old daughter loves Cinderella so we watched it tonight. She says she likes it because Cinderella is brave and she works very hard.

I'm good with that.