Hi everyone!
I’ve never been a fan of princesses. I always thought they were too girly, and didn’t represent girls in a flattering light. I thought princesses portrayed the female part of society as weak, overly trusting, and needing to be rescued and loved by the strong, brave male part of society. I became critical of Disney because many of their movies center around princesses. I’ve always been a firm believer in the importance of diversity, equality, and social justice, and my education has certainly played a role in my awareness of the inequalities and stereotypes of the world.
Recently, however, I have started to try to have more of an open mind about Disney. Like me, Walt Disney has autism, and I admire him for overcoming the challenges of autism. I’m also trying to give people from older generations the benefit of the doubt and understand that attitudes about gender evolve. Walt Disney lived before modern ideas of stereotyping, so may not be not completely fair to judge him based on more evolved standards of inclusion.
I had another chance to think about Disney princesses last weekend. I saw Ralph Breaks the Internet, and it portrayed Disney princess differently. They preferred to wear t-shirts instead of dresses. They were also instinctively, fiercely protective of each other when Vanellope, Wreck It Ralph’s friend and a stranger to the princesses, initially came into their presence. The true, inner perspectives and personalities of the princesses was with a modern outlook who hated how they were stereotyped and defined by relying on men for rescue and love.
I’m proud and supportive of the important step forward that Disney, which is a company so influential to kids and their families, has taken to express a side of the princesses that accurately represents girls and women in a diverse, modern way.