Disney Princesses

Disney movies are full of sexist messages which teach young girls to fulfill a submissive role in society. According to Disney’s Director of Franchise Management for their consumer products, “The Disney Princess brand has gone beyond the dress-up and toys, and begun to look at the brand as a lifestyle, filling out all of the other things girls need in life.” Disney profits off of and relies on young girls false illusions, and even goes so far as to offer “Princess Classes” in Disney stores. These classes teach young “Princesses-in-training” everything from teamwork, table manners, and truthfulness, to courtesy, compassion, curtseys and kindness.

Young girls have learned to idolize the Disney princesses, and have even began to look at them as the perfect role models to follow in order to achieve perfect lives. Disney opened their “Disney Princess” line in 2000, and after one year, reached $300 million in sales. After 3 years their sales reached $2.5 billion. There is no doubt that their sexist message is reaching millions of children around the world. I will now focus on how sexist messages are communicated through 3 of Disney’s princesses:

Snow White, Ariel and Belle.

Snow White’s only emphasized skills are her appearance and housekeeping skills. The evil queen hates her because she is “the fairest of them all”, and the only reason the hunter doesn’t kill her is because she is to pretty to kill. These scenes present the message that the greatest quality a woman can possess is beauty. Snow white is also categorized as an innocent and perfect and obedient housewife whose only talents lie in her ability to cook and clean, which she does right away upon entering the dwarves cottage. In the original Grimm Brothers Snow White, Snow White used her cooking and cleaning as a bartering tool, while Disney suggests domestic chores are part of female nature. It’s apparent a woman’s role is at home keeping the house in order while the men sing “It’s off to work we go!” When faced with danger, Snow White runs away on tiny high-heeled shoes and then falls in a crying heap. In the original story, Snow White awakens from her sleep when a dwarf falls over a tree stump while carrying her coffin, which unclogs a piece of the poison apple from her throat. In the Disney version, Snow white helplessly awaits his kiss while trapped in deadly sleep. This change places an emphasis on a man’s role in a female’s life: She cannot live without him.

Ariel was willing to give up everything that she possessed: her voice, family and society… for the chance of being kissed by a handsome guy. Hans Christian Andersen originally wrote this fairytale, and his Ariel was originally looking for human love only as a mean of achieving her true desire: an immortal soul. Disney’s version of this story portrays Ariel as wide-eyed and innocent, wearing a string bikini top made out of sea-shells, and whose only purpose in life is to find the perfect man. She will do anything to have the prince fall in love with her. She will disobey her father, and even make a bargain with the devil, portrayed by Ursula. Ursula gives Ariel a set of shapely legs, but takes her voice in trade, which is okay, according to her... “On land it’s much preferred for ladies not to say a word; it’s one who holds her tongue that gets her man.” Ursula also tells her “You’ll have your looks, your pretty face, and don’t underestimate the importance of body language.” This encourages not only the idea that you have to be thin to be pretty, but also that young girls should just shut up and be beautiful.