Disney Princesses

It is crack for 5 year olds. It is an addiction for little girls, and they can’t get enough. They dress up, play games and basically want it to be their life. What am I talking about you ask? Well Disney Princesses of course. You weren’t expecting that one were you. Well the thing is, the fact that little girls could watch the Disney Princess movies over and over again is not necessarily a good thing. In all of their princess movies, Disney is blatantly sexist. They believe their movies are about love and perseverance, but the truth is that they are demeaning to the women in them. They are not teaching young girls the right lessons at this point in their live. The girls watching these movies are in a stage of their life that is crucial to soaking up all the information they can. But, because of Disney, they are soaking up sexist messages that will corrupt the youth of this generation leading into a hopeless spiral of sexism that will ruin this society.

Take The Little Mermaid for instance. Ariel trades her means of communication for a physical sex symbol. She gives away her only way of expressing herself, and her intellect in order to be more physically appealing to a man. When she makes the deal, Ursula tells her, “on land it is much preferred for ladies to not say a word, it’s the one that holds her tongue that gets her man.” What kind of message is this sending to young girls? In this line alone, Disney is telling us that we shouldn’t speak our minds because then we won’t be appealing to men. How does that make sense? Then she goes on to say, “you’ll have your looks, your pretty face, and don’t underestimate the importance of body language.” Not only is she telling Ariel that she shouldn’t speak her mind, but she is also telling her that all men value is good looks. Ursula is telling her that the best way to get the man you want is to be sexually forward with them. The thing is, Ursula is not just telling this to Ariel. She is telling this to all young girls watching this movie. What they are getting from the story is that you need to sacrifice in order to achieve the perfect body, and you need to have that perfect body in order to win over your man, because physical transformation is the best way to win him over. Apparently Disney doesn’t understand that the audience they are selling these movies to is easily impressionable. Their minds can be molded to whatever you want. And from this movie, they learn three things. One, you need to be pretty to win over your man. Two, there is no need to speak your mind or be intelligent because all men care about is looks. And finally, three, in order to be considered pretty, you need to look like a slightly anorexic Barbie Doll. Congratulations Disney, you have just cause hundreds of eating disorders.

Disney, you need to understand that these young kids that you are making these movies for idolize you as a company and the characters in your movies. You have to power to do great things by showing young kids that they can live their lives anyway they want, or that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, or anything else that will be beneficial to them later in life. But instead you decide to teach them that they live in a male dominated environment where their life will be complete if they can fall in love. You show them that they must rely in men forever and the only way to get the man of your dreams is to be thin and pretty. Little girls believe you. They love your movies and want to be your characters. Use the power you have to help change the world and the minds of little girls. They will follow wherever you lead them. So lead them in the right direction.