BrianL
Doom Buggy Driver
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2013
Thats an interesting question. I think Disney has been changing its characterization of “princess-ness” for a while and celebrating those characters. I was even thinking of how in a movie like Moana the “princess” does not need saving nor is any part of it about how Moana needs to find a man. Really the only other male character in the movie is never even thought of as a mate.
Its one thing to change the characterization on a ride. It’s another to try to change centuries of characterization especially where people already own copies of that original version (DVDs, Blu-Rays, etc.) and cannot be updated. I have noticed that Disney appears to be updating these characterizations in more contemporary renditions. When our daughters were younger (5-7 years ago) when we would read “princess” stories written more recently, they focused on Cinderella doing charity work or Belle helping animals, etc., not on relationships with the “princes.” And this is not even talking about the close to 30 years of Disney “princess” stories such as Pocahantas, Mulan, Tangled, and Frozen.
It doesn’t erase this sexist/misogynist history but I’ve felt it’s turning the boat around. I think that our daughters have had more exposure to these more “modern” versions of “princess-ness” than to the prior versions.
I definitely like how they have changed the depictions of princesses, however one thing that happens with that which I do not like is that it somehow becomes seen as "wrong" to have a princess who is just that and not also an action hero or whatever. It's okay if a little girl wants to be a pampered princess instead of a firefighter or whatever, and it's also okay if they do want to be a firefighter too. Some people get a little judgey about that. Granted there was a time when the stories were very one-sided and I'm glad that has changed. I like the tough gals like Rapunzel better anyway.