Comments on: The Disney Princesses and Sexism http://thefbomb.org/2009/10/the-disney-princesses-and-sexism/ A blog/community created for teenage girls who care about their rights as women and want to be heard. Sun, 20 May 2012 22:35:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Gigi http://thefbomb.org/2009/10/the-disney-princesses-and-sexism/comment-page-1/#comment-47155 Gigi Tue, 08 May 2012 03:41:59 +0000 http://thefbomb.org/?p=1536#comment-47155 I think alot of people really don't undestand how anti-feminest disney is. First of look at the timeline of events when disney began to use media as a means of trying to manipulate and brain was people. Snow White came out in 1937 right around the time of world war two, this is also the time when Rosi showed up. Women stopped working so much at home and started to work in factories taking the jobs of the men who went to war. It seems to me that as a way of trying to remind women of there place and also the impressionable children they came out with Snow white...who the movie could have been made without snow white in it. The same goes for Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty (even though they came out at different times) By the time the little memaid came out, feminism was in full swing and women demanded a more up-to-date princess. Thus we have Ariel the princess who was a talented singer and devoted to art. She gives up everything, her family, her voice and undergoes drastic changes for...bum bum bum...a man..she saw on a ship. Now i've heard people say she always wanted to be human...not true she wanted to engage humans, not be human (until she saw Eric). So thats her happily ever after. Now i'm sorry for all of you beauty and the beast fans but Bell is the worst to me, because everyone talks about how she is so smart and she reads and she's proactive. Well honestly the only book you actually saw her reading and enjoying was a romance novel. She allowed the beast to be abusive towards her. and she had the since to run away...and lost that point by coming back and staying. The main thing i want you all to look at is in these movies who is really the hero (meaning who finally really kills the bad guys) In Snow White the seven dwarf (Men) case the witch up the hill where she got stuck by lighting. In Cinderella the prince takes her out of her bad situation. In Sleeping Beauty, Phillip kill Meleficent. In the Little Mermaid Eric stabs Ursula with a boat. In Beauty and the Beast, the beast tosses Gueston of a building. In Mulan, Mushu lights the Fire work and blows up Han. In The Frog Princess that creepy stuff ate him. In repunzle that dude cuts her hair and the witch dies. My point is that there in no princess who actully takes care of themselves...it seem that there is always someone else who does the dirty work. I think alot of people really don’t undestand how anti-feminest disney is. First of look at the timeline of events when disney began to use media as a means of trying to manipulate and brain was people. Snow White came out in 1937 right around the time of world war two, this is also the time when Rosi showed up. Women stopped working so much at home and started to work in factories taking the jobs of the men who went to war. It seems to me that as a way of trying to remind women of there place and also the impressionable children they came out with Snow white…who the movie could have been made without snow white in it. The same goes for Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty (even though they came out at different times) By the time the little memaid came out, feminism was in full swing and women demanded a more up-to-date princess. Thus we have Ariel the princess who was a talented singer and devoted to art. She gives up everything, her family, her voice and undergoes drastic changes for…bum bum bum…a man..she saw on a ship. Now i’ve heard people say she always wanted to be human…not true she wanted to engage humans, not be human (until she saw Eric). So thats her happily ever after. Now i’m sorry for all of you beauty and the beast fans but Bell is the worst to me, because everyone talks about how she is so smart and she reads and she’s proactive. Well honestly the only book you actually saw her reading and enjoying was a romance novel. She allowed the beast to be abusive towards her. and she had the since to run away…and lost that point by coming back and staying. The main thing i want you all to look at is in these movies who is really the hero (meaning who finally really kills the bad guys)
In Snow White the seven dwarf (Men) case the witch up the hill where she got stuck by lighting. In Cinderella the prince takes her out of her bad situation. In Sleeping Beauty, Phillip kill Meleficent. In the Little Mermaid Eric stabs Ursula with a boat. In Beauty and the Beast, the beast tosses Gueston of a building. In Mulan, Mushu lights the Fire work and blows up Han. In The Frog Princess that creepy stuff ate him. In repunzle that dude cuts her hair and the witch dies. My point is that there in no princess who actully takes care of themselves…it seem that there is always someone else who does the dirty work.

]]> By: Caroline http://thefbomb.org/2009/10/the-disney-princesses-and-sexism/comment-page-1/#comment-43854 Caroline Sat, 18 Feb 2012 04:53:18 +0000 http://thefbomb.org/?p=1536#comment-43854 Honestly, who cares? Disney Princess movies are not made to feature regular women, or be a political statement. They are fantasies about how viewers want to be girly and wear pretty dresses and find a handsome prince. Not to mention, Disney didn't write these, they're all based on fairy tales. On the subject more specifically of Ariel: She saved his life first, in fact he never really saves her life....also, if a guy had done what she did to win over a girl it would be considered totally romantic, and not sexist at all. Should a girl sit back and wait for a guy to come to her? And what about movies such as Sleeping Beauty, Snow White? People all say that princesses only ever do something involving their sexual assets, but those princes did nothing but give the girls a kiss on the lips. Ok, Phillip fought a dragon, whatever. I think people should stop trying to ruin my childhood....Disney is amazing. Honestly, who cares? Disney Princess movies are not made to feature regular women, or be a political statement. They are fantasies about how viewers want to be girly and wear pretty dresses and find a handsome prince. Not to mention, Disney didn’t write these, they’re all based on fairy tales.
On the subject more specifically of Ariel:
She saved his life first, in fact he never really saves her life….also, if a guy had done what she did to win over a girl it would be considered totally romantic, and not sexist at all. Should a girl sit back and wait for a guy to come to her? And what about movies such as Sleeping Beauty, Snow White? People all say that princesses only ever do something involving their sexual assets, but those princes did nothing but give the girls a kiss on the lips. Ok, Phillip fought a dragon, whatever.
I think people should stop trying to ruin my childhood….Disney is amazing.

]]> By: Sara http://thefbomb.org/2009/10/the-disney-princesses-and-sexism/comment-page-1/#comment-39290 Sara Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:23:44 +0000 http://thefbomb.org/?p=1536#comment-39290 and of course Disney characters of anti-feminist, even Mulan. Underlying messages are very anti-feminist. These movies are created by the elite, white men (usually), brainwashing you basically. I loved Disney movies but its sad to see it as an adult and realize the messages that they were portraying. and of course Disney characters of anti-feminist, even Mulan. Underlying messages are very anti-feminist. These movies are created by the elite, white men (usually), brainwashing you basically. I loved Disney movies but its sad to see it as an adult and realize the messages that they were portraying.

]]> By: Sara http://thefbomb.org/2009/10/the-disney-princesses-and-sexism/comment-page-1/#comment-39289 Sara Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:18:17 +0000 http://thefbomb.org/?p=1536#comment-39289 Jasmine may have demanded who she wanted to marry, but he had to become a prince.. sooo.. Jasmine may have demanded who she wanted to marry, but he had to become a prince.. sooo..

]]> By: Brigit http://thefbomb.org/2009/10/the-disney-princesses-and-sexism/comment-page-1/#comment-38877 Brigit Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:57:30 +0000 http://thefbomb.org/?p=1536#comment-38877 I am studying Disneys representation of women for my film A level, and I was wondering if any of you held a point of view on his sexism/representation of gender in either of the films, The little mermaid, Mulan or Snow White? Also if you knew of any books or websites that could help me with my research? I am studying Disneys representation of women for my film A level, and I was wondering if any of you held a point of view on his sexism/representation of gender in either of the films, The little mermaid, Mulan or Snow White? Also if you knew of any books or websites that could help me with my research?

]]> By: leita http://thefbomb.org/2009/10/the-disney-princesses-and-sexism/comment-page-1/#comment-38363 leita Thu, 27 Oct 2011 22:14:47 +0000 http://thefbomb.org/?p=1536#comment-38363 Important things left out: snow white not only was valued for her beauty but for her housekeeping skills, which actually makes it worse...and belle HAD intellect, but the story turned this into something bad: she was only valued for her beauty. Also, her two options were a very blatantly sexist man (Gaston, who in the musical version not on the tv he is even more so) and an abusive one. Important things left out: snow white not only was valued for her beauty but for her housekeeping skills, which actually makes it worse…and belle HAD intellect, but the story turned this into something bad: she was only valued for her beauty. Also, her two options were a very blatantly sexist man (Gaston, who in the musical version not on the tv he is even more so) and an abusive one.

]]> By: brittany S. http://thefbomb.org/2009/10/the-disney-princesses-and-sexism/comment-page-1/#comment-36810 brittany S. Tue, 04 Oct 2011 22:56:10 +0000 http://thefbomb.org/?p=1536#comment-36810 I definitely think Disney puts a lot of oppressive gender roles in their films. The Little Mermaid is easily the worst to me: to show a woman giving up her legs, voice, and basically dignity, to woo a man with her looks alone.. is insulting to women and offensive to show to small children. That being said, it is also bothersome how extreme people take "sexism" too. Yes some of the roles are archaic and stereotypical, but as you mentioned, Disney never claims they are "JUST" a or "JUST" b. THey do have other qualities, and usually choose love over other goals. My main problem is that to me this shows small children that this is the only purpose in a woman's life. If Disney films had more variation, these gender roles would seem less harsh. I definitely think Disney puts a lot of oppressive gender roles in their films. The Little Mermaid is easily the worst to me: to show a woman giving up her legs, voice, and basically dignity, to woo a man with her looks alone.. is insulting to women and offensive to show to small children. That being said, it is also bothersome how extreme people take “sexism” too. Yes some of the roles are archaic and stereotypical, but as you mentioned, Disney never claims they are “JUST” a or “JUST” b. THey do have other qualities, and usually choose love over other goals. My main problem is that to me this shows small children that this is the only purpose in a woman’s life. If Disney films had more variation, these gender roles would seem less harsh.

]]> By: Heywait http://thefbomb.org/2009/10/the-disney-princesses-and-sexism/comment-page-1/#comment-34120 Heywait Mon, 15 Aug 2011 10:56:48 +0000 http://thefbomb.org/?p=1536#comment-34120 The Lion King was told through a male perspective; I rather enjoyed it over any princess movie as a little girl. Meanwhile my brother's favorite Disney movie was Mulan. SO HA! The Lion King was told through a male perspective; I rather enjoyed it over any princess movie as a little girl. Meanwhile my brother’s favorite Disney movie was Mulan.

SO HA!

]]> By: Hope http://thefbomb.org/2009/10/the-disney-princesses-and-sexism/comment-page-1/#comment-32688 Hope Wed, 13 Jul 2011 08:15:25 +0000 http://thefbomb.org/?p=1536#comment-32688 Not one disney princess defeats a bad guy??? What about Mulan?! I recall she gets recognized by an emperor and a crowd of thousands for saving her country. On top of that, she protects her old father who would've died had he fought. Plus, she won the attention of a man through bravery and wit--not beauty. He was definitely going "ga-ga" over her while she was still dressed up in her warrior outfit without makeup or hair done. The main reason Ariel lost her voice was because the story would've been cut way too short had she been able to say "By the way, I'm the mermaid that saved you!" Also, her body didn't change for the prince, it was so she could explore the land like she wanted to do waaaaay before she saved prince charming from drowning. It should also be noted that movies tend to reflect the time period---notice how snow white was made in the late 30s and mulan was created in the late 90s. MAJOR shift in values right there. I don't think disney princesses deserve an anti- feminist stamp on them...they're actually progressing quite nicely with the times :) Not one disney princess defeats a bad guy??? What about Mulan?! I recall she gets recognized by an emperor and a crowd of thousands for saving her country. On top of that, she protects her old father who would’ve died had he fought. Plus, she won the attention of a man through bravery and wit–not beauty. He was definitely going “ga-ga” over her while she was still dressed up in her warrior outfit without makeup or hair done.

The main reason Ariel lost her voice was because the story would’ve been cut way too short had she been able to say “By the way, I’m the mermaid that saved you!” Also, her body didn’t change for the prince, it was so she could explore the land like she wanted to do waaaaay before she saved prince charming from drowning.

It should also be noted that movies tend to reflect the time period—notice how snow white was made in the late 30s and mulan was created in the late 90s. MAJOR shift in values right there.

I don’t think disney princesses deserve an anti- feminist stamp on them…they’re actually progressing quite nicely with the times :)

]]> By: Julie Perrault Wallbridge http://thefbomb.org/2009/10/the-disney-princesses-and-sexism/comment-page-1/#comment-30927 Julie Perrault Wallbridge Fri, 03 Jun 2011 01:49:22 +0000 http://thefbomb.org/?p=1536#comment-30927 I really appreciate your balanced approach here. It is easy to jump on the shortcomings, but at the end of the day these movies created a great deal of magic in the hearts of little girls for decades now. It is our job as parents to explain the differences between what we are seeing on the tv and real life - and to spend far more time showing them real life than watching tv. In the meantime, I love watching Disney movies with my daughter - my son also has a favourite princess and I love that! I really appreciate your balanced approach here. It is easy to jump on the shortcomings, but at the end of the day these movies created a great deal of magic in the hearts of little girls for decades now. It is our job as parents to explain the differences between what we are seeing on the tv and real life – and to spend far more time showing them real life than watching tv. In the meantime, I love watching Disney movies with my daughter – my son also has a favourite princess and I love that!

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