Disnification

While taking attendance today, we were discussing our favorite animated movies. Due to the day and age we're in, almost everyone said their favorite movie was either a Disney movie or Pixar film. When it came to me, I proudly raised my Toy Story folder. But then I realized, even though I am a total Disney nerd, and always have been, Disney has been horrible for the female image and expectation of love.

In the first few movies, the damsel is rescued or chased down by the prince (Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Cinderella.) Eventually it switched the female protagonists to become smart and independent, but they still relied on the men (Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas.) Granted in these past few movies the women were still mentally and physically able, the climax of the film is when love between the two is pronounced.

 This image is courtesy of Kristen McManus. I did not create it, but I thought it was appropriate.

So why is this bad for the female image? Each of these princesses gets the man because they are physically attractive (and unrealistically so.) Yes, the men fall in love with them for other reasons (Pocahontas teaches John Smith the way of the land, Belle teaches the Beast to read and love...) but the first reason is because of their beauty.

Now, their unrealistic beauty? Big boobs, big hips, small waist, and extremely petite. OH! and they have perfect skin, complexion, and seemingly naturally looking make-up faces.

But as always, there is a disclaimer. I still am a Disney girl because I think the message overall is wonderful. Belle teaches us about inner beauty and true love, Pocahontas about following your heart and respecting nature, Jasmine about challenging what you believe is wrong, and Mulan about kicking as and proving yourself as a woman- anything you can do I can do better.

STILL, this is where all of this has been leading. Sorry to all of you who haven't seen Tangled yet but this was my experience:

While watching Tangled with my 4 other girl friends, there was a couple behind us with their three little girls. At the end when Flynn Rider cuts Rapunzel's hair in order to save her, it turns from glowing gold flowing locks to a brown pixie cut. Now personally, I loved it. I thought it was a great challenge to the image of beauty of the past; no longer the long locks of gold, but brunette. The line "I have a thing for brunettes" was just the cherry on top. HOWEVER, when this happened, immediately the little girl behind me said "SHE WAS PRETTIER WITH BLONDE HAIR! Now she just looks gross..."

Wow

Wow

REALLY?!?!

All 5 of my friends (I am included) looked at each other. Every single one of us was a brunette. Just when our image was proudly presented as beautiful (compared to blue eyed blonde haired) a little girl shatters my dreams.

But where did she get this idea? The media. I mean, yes, she could've thought that Rapunzel was prettier with blonde hair, but she's a cartoon character. SHE'S PRETTY EITHER WAY!? So why did she say it? Because her image of beauty, whether she realizes it or not, is based off of Barbie and Disney. She likes the tall, thin, big boobed, small waisted, blonde beauty. Even at such a young age she has already been brainwashed into the beauty ideal.

So how do we change this? Well, take a tip from Tangled: start changing up the beauty image and ACKNOWLEDGE it. Belle was brunette, and yes she did beat out the three dumb blondes, and yes that is partially why she is one of my favorites, but her change in beauty stereotype was never mentioned. No one ever thought differently.

I must say, at least Disney has expanded it's characters of beauty. Since Tiana, from Princess and the Frog, they have brought back the Asian beauty, Mulan; Native American, Pocahontas; and Middle Eastern, Jasmine. They always had the red-head, Ariel; Brunette and brown-eyed, Belle; blue-eyed and dark brown hair, Snow White. BUT they were all dominated by the blue-eyed blonde-haired Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.

So no offense blondes out there, you truly are beautiful; BUT, you are the "standard" of beauty and it needs to be changed. Right now, the younger generation is just a little too ridiculous, and before they know it, they will be sucked into the crazy ideals of today.