Newspaper says Disney Princesses are not good role models!

[bsmcneil]

so not defending the article, but many people on this board (possibly some in this thread) comment about kids' lack of respect, etc. generally, i see kids feeling a greater sense of entitlement now. and yes, often this can be fed into by things like the princesses. there needs to be a stark delineation between reality and pretend. (and an understanding of how some parts of the princess stories are problematic and some aren't)

/gender studies expert
//BA in Race and Gender Studies
///was hugged plenty, thank you very much
////even likes Disney, despite degree
///slashies

 

[HappyLawyer]

Who really cares what they say? I don't what they print is not stopping anyone from going to Disney or loving the princesses

 

[Tikicampers]

I would recycle the paper and not give it another thought. I loved Barbie and anything to do with princessess, but they were never my "role models." For that I looked to the women in my life (relatives, teachers, etc.) I still love princessess. I am also college educated and have a full time job. Plus (hope DH doesn't see this) DH doesn't exactly run things around here.
You'll see this same story over and over. i just had my first DD, and I would much rather see her play with Sleeping Beauty than one of those Bratz things anyway.

 

[turrethouse]

Welll, I will just say, that I always did think that beauty and the Beast was a little skewed of a representative of what a female should aspire to! LOL I mean, what a classic case of 'I can fix him'. The guy locks locks her up and screams at her, is not very nice to her family or any of the people around her....but gee----turns out she CAN change him with a little love... Sounds a bit like battered wife syndrom to me!


Anyway- I take it for what it's worth. My DD will love the trip!

 

[smartestnumber5]

Am I the only one that pictures Anne E. Lott as having John Lennon glasses, dirty hair, hairy armpits and smelling of patchouli?

Gee you've pretty much just made the author's point for her! If she ain't skinny and pretty and doesn't conform to society's expectations of how her body should look, we shouldn't listen to her right?

Does anyone else see the irony?

I hate to admit it, but I think the moronic Lott may have the beginnings of a point.

I certainly don't think that the Disney princesses are all bad role models, but some of them do lack some of the more modern positive aspects. And even Fiona has a somewhat skewed vision of life at first - she sits helpless in her tower, waiting for some handsome knight to come and rescue her and live happily ever after, when it's obvious (later in the movie) that she is capable of recuing herself. And when she transforms permanently into an ogress, she stutters, "But, I'm supposed to be beautiful!" Shrek's response: "You ARE beautiful!"

I'm not saying thst the princess characters are bad role models; certainly, they all stand for the side of good and happiness. But most of them are the "wait for a man to come and take care of me" types, rather than the "I can take care of myself" types.

I agree with this. I don't want my (future) daughter or son thinking that she or he has nothing valuable about them but their beauty (and who knows if they'll actually be pretty in the first place?), or that they have to get married, or that they have to be attracted to men, or that they have to wait around to be rescued. Of course, I don't think that watching one Disney princess movie is going to that. Watching the whole collection of Disney princess movies over and over and nothing else? I don't know about that, but someone somewhere has probably done some psychological studies.

Of course that doesn't mean I will forbid a child of mine from watching these movies--I wouldn't want to censor her/him from things. But we will let him/her know our opinions about the characters and the plots of the movies; s/he can decide for her/himself what she thinks. (Once they are old enough, we will also tell them about the real fairy tales which the movies are taken from. The real stories are often horribly gruesome as women subject themselves to any and all pain or shame in order to get a man and often the Disney story retains a less severe version of that.) And if our daughter or son still wants to dress up like a princess then that's fine--we'll just encourage them to be the "take care of yourself" kind of princess.

Actually most people who find out that I like Disney World are shocked, because everything they know about me assures them that I hate the princess phenomenon. I have to explain that I do not like most Disney movies or even most Disney characters--I just like Disney World.

 

[La2kw]

As much as I love the classics, I do think the article makes some good points- though I wouldn't say that all princesses are bad role models. Before Pocahontas, Jasmine, Belle, Nani, Lilo, and Mulan were introduced, I always found the princesses to be very stereotypical charicatures of a weak, dependent, female who needed a prince to be happy and was only interested in getting married. Isn't that how all those movies ended? Not something I would wish for my daughter to emulate. I think the more recent female heroines have been different in that respect. In addition, more girls can relate to them since they don't look like caucasian Barbies.

 

[badblackpug]

This is ridiculous. Truly, my daughter does not see the princesses as "role models" and I dout any other child does either. This is about fantasy, fun, and make believe. What could be more fun than imagining that you are a beautiful princess, in a sparkly, beautiful ball gown. Geez, let kids have fun, let them play and use their imagination. We don't have to smash them over the head with reality 24/7! They grow up too fast, childhood should be a fun, magical time.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Gosh.
2) After reading the article, I wish I could lower myself to name calling.
3) But, I won't.
4) I really will resist the urge and won't.

5) There is obviously another agenda here.
6) She is using princesses as a vehicle.
7) I'd rather have my daughters/granddaughters mimic Disney princesses than Anna E. Lott.

 

[La2kw]

I'm still thinking here.....

None of the Disney princesses really sit around waiting for a man to "rescue" them do they? Maybe Aurora is LEFT in that situation but it isn't really her choice. Snow White would have happily spent the rest of her lift taking care of the dwarves, Belle is looking for MORE but not necessarily a rescue, Cinderella as well.

DD loves Mulan the best - and I think that she is a GREAT role model!

Huh?

Snow White is not truly happy (or safe) until a prince comes along and kisses her, waking her up from an evil spell and marrying her. This occurs after the seven dwarves attempt to rescue her from the same evil queen who cast said evil spell. She had 8 men taking care of her, and she's still stupid enough to eat an apple given to her by an old hag!

Cinderella is not truly happy until a prince comes along and marries her, removing her from the household of the wicked step mother.

Aurora is not truly happy (or safe) until a prince comes along, slays the dragon, and marries her.

Belle is not truly happy until she changes the beast into a good prince (as opposed to a selfish, angry prince) and he marries her.

Ariel is not truly happy until she marries the prince, after he saves her from an evil spell.

None of these princesses were truly happy until a man came along and married them.

 

[Mkrop]

Huh?

Snow White is not truly happy (or safe) until a prince comes along and kisses her, waking her up from an evil spell and marrying her. This occurs after the seven dwarves attempt to rescue her from the same evil queen who cast said evil spell. She had 8 men taking care of her, and she's still stupid enough to eat an apple given to her by an old hag!

Cinderella is not truly happy until a prince comes along and marries her, removing her from the household of the wicked step mother.

Aurora is not truly happy (or safe) until a prince comes along, slays the dragon, and marries her.

Belle is not truly happy until she changes the beast into a good prince (as opposed to a selfish, angry prince) and he marries her.

Ariel is not truly happy until she marries the prince, after he saves her from an evil spell.

None of these princesses were truly happy until a man came along and married them.

Wow I have such a differnt take on at least two of these:

Cinderella seemed fine before she met the prince, she made the best of her unhappy family situation by finding happiness in her friends, the mice, the birds and all the other animals. She was still able to sing each day despite horrible surroundings.

I like that lesson no matter how bad we have it you can still find the good in life.

And yes she did go on to find true love, something I certainly hope my children find.

Belle was her own person before she ever met Beast. She was "different" from her whole town, she had her nose in a book (oh intelligent girl) and did not fall for the obvious guy that all the other girls in town were swooning over, the most good looking popular man.

She found true love in someone totally unexpected, I like that lesson as well that it may not be the most handsome/beuatiful person who is your true love.

I even mentioned this article to DH and he immediately thought of Belle as well. (just something form a guy's perspective)

 

[La2kw]

What do you think!? I'm getting mad reading it again. I guess these people would think the BBB is a place to make little girls feel bad about themselves!

Why get mad over someone expressing their opinion?

I think BBB is one of the most ridiculous concepts Disney has ever come up with. It's a blatant ripoff of Club Libby Lu, which is in itself a ridiculous idea. I would have never spent $35-$175 on a makeover for my daughter when she was that age. That was money we needed to spend on meals in the parks when DS and DD were that little. She was perfectly happy playing dressup at home with her old halloween costumes, using her own imagination.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

I dislike any article that seems to think one genre is so influential. I wore a witch costume on Halloween and GUESS WHAT ... I did not become a demon worshiper! I also LOVED LOVED LOVED princess stuff and yet I am a productive member of society ... make a living ... have a home ...

Parents hold the key in making sure that whatever a child emulates is healthy. It's the balence of it all that makes the difference (and my hat's off to parents!).

But it was an interesting article ... I had not seen that one!

FYI: Witches do not worship demons, the devil, or anything else satanic or evil.

I tend to agree with parts of the article, personally. JMO.

I also think it depends on the child, the parents, and how such influences are presented and discussed.

 

[Minniemouse07]

I hate to admit it, but I think the moronic Lott may have the beginnings of a point.

I certainly don't think that the Disney princesses are all bad role models, but some of them do lack some of the more modern positive aspects. And even Fiona has a somewhat skewed vision of life at first - she sits helpless in her tower, waiting for some handsome knight to come and rescue her and live happily ever after, when it's obvious (later in the movie) that she is capable of recuing herself. And when she transforms permanently into an ogress, she stutters, "But, I'm supposed to be beautiful!" Shrek's response: "You ARE beautiful!"

I'm not saying thst the princess characters are bad role models; certainly, they all stand for the side of good and happiness. But most of them are the "wait for a man to come and take care of me" types, rather than the "I can take care of myself" types. I just think that aspect of the princess persona needs to be de-emphasized these days, because too much of that attitude, from parents, peers, and even entertainment, produces monsterous girls like those in the TV show My Super Sweet 16.

:yeahthat:

I agree. Although the later era "princesses" (Belle, Pocahantas, Mulan, etc.) were strong, I can take care of myself females... the earlier ones definitely were NOT. Even though I am a die hard Disney fan, I do prefer the storyline in Ever After to the one in Disney's Cinderella . My favorite animated movie has always been Sleeping Beauty (both for the fairies and the awesome multi-plane camera) but she needs to be "saved" by Phillip (granted she had a spell on her but still).

So I agree that the author does have a point, but I also don't think the princesses are all bad, if I did my 5.5yo wouldn't be in with them, have half her wardrobe covered in them and prance around the house wearing her princess shoes of the day. rincess:

They inspire magic and fantasy , endless hours of imaginative play and make her happy! But I do point out when dd can help herself, as opposed to waiting for someone else to "save" her!

 

[TDC Nala]

She's a womens' studies professor, is it surprising what her opinion is?

I am not a princess fan personally. Just not my thing. Call me whatever you want to call me, but wishes do NOT always come true.

Thought Mulan was pretty cool though.

 

[Violet Crayon]

Just a side note, but it's also important to think about the time periods in which some of these princesses were animated by Disney. The healthy women we want to see were not considered acceptable until the late 60's and the 70's. And then they are working with a tale created hundreds of years ago and have to decide how traditional they want to stay with the female role, and how far do they break from that.

 

[TDC Nala]

I guess the people quoted in the article didnt get their dream day to dress as a princess their wedding day. Most girls dream about that day where we get to dress in our beautiful gown as well as marry our true love the man of our dreams!

Oh please.

And I do NOT have a problem with the princess thing if the kids are enjoying pretending. But go ahead and bash the unmarried.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

My take is that people are entitled to their opinion, but I am pretty sick of people telling me the best way to raise my kids.

My DD3 is a princess junkie. She wants to be one, and wants to marry Jeff Gordon or Johnnie Depp. She loves BBB, and I sometimes put in the extensions for her at home. She is opinionated, confident, and scrappy. She also loves Barbies. And, another whack on the self image front, the woman she looks up to the most, her mom? I weigh 100 pounds soaking wet.

DD14 was the same way at that age. She adored Belle most of all, still does, though she also likes Aurora. She played with skinny little Barbies, and all their Malibu-hottie accessories. She is not your average girl. She is 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs 180 pounds. She is not chubby, she is SOLID. The majority of that weight is muscle. She looks like she could be a linebacker. She is the most confident kid I know. She could care less what other people think of her, she has her good friends and everyone else can pound salt for all she cares. She is a terrific athlete and musician. Yes, she is boy crazy....but when she doesn't have a "boyfriend" she doesn't worry about it.

If that is what comes from loving the princesses and Barbies, then my younger DD can pretend play princess all she wants!

I appreciate the paper's concern, but we are doing just fine...thanks.

 

[meeko_33785]

I do think that Disney has come out with plenty of stong female heroines- princess or not. Belle is an intelligent young woman who sacrifices her dreams in order to rescue her father. Cinderella remained kind and stong-willed even while she was oppressed by her own family, Jasmine was willing to give uo being an princess and running away from the palace instead of being forced into marriage and treated like a "prize to be won", and Pocahontas risked her own life in order to bring peace. These are not weak characters. However, I'm affraid that as time goes on, Disney has truly watered down the characters from their films when theu bring them into the "Disney Princess" line. Now it seems like all they do it go to tea parties, wear fancy dresses and dance ballet. This is what worries me. The characters themselves though, I don't really have a problem with.

 

[mattsdragon]

Gee you've pretty much just made the author's point for her! If she ain't skinny and pretty and doesn't conform to society's expectations of how her body should look, we shouldn't listen to her right?

Does anyone else see the irony?

Actually, I do see irony. I find it ironic that someone who does actually fit the "feminist" stereotype (i.e. mullet. . .unattractive. . .butch looking) would say something disparaging about the Disney princesses, and how they create a negative stereotype. While all along, disregarding the fact that two of the Princesses (Cinderella and Belle) are actually very positive role models, while also maintaining some of the feminine qualities that these so called feminists seem to hate so much.

That is ironic, thank you.

 

[Mkrop]

Oh please.

And I do NOT have a problem with the princess thing if the kids are enjoying pretending. But go ahead and bash the unmarried.

I'm Sorry I made that statement and that wasnt its intention. I guess I just meant that we all sometimes like to be princess for a day (and that maybe this would happen on your wedding day perhaps) and yet we can still be strong productive women.

Sorry I really was not bashing anyone and if this came out wrong.