At first glance, Disney princesses and feminism appear to be two completely separate areas: On the one hand, we have the – mostly – white, young women who physically correspond to a very unhealthy, absolutely unrealistic body ideal. And on the other hand, feminism, which strives for equality and sees women as more than an object to be saved that has to submit to patriarchy.
Certainly, at first glance, the classic princesses such as Cinderella (formerly “Cinderella”), Ariel the mermaid, Belle, Jasmine and Rapunzel are anything but a role model for young, independent and strong women: their story has as a film and pivot a man. How heteronormative. And absolutely not up-to-date, at least that is what many people expect of our modern, cosmopolitan society. But: Are the criticisms of these Disney princesses really justified? Isn’t there more behind the all-too-beautiful facade?
Disney has been practicing hypocritical meta-criticism for years
The critical examination of Disney princesses was so ubiquitous that the mega-corporation itself got involved – and practiced meta-criticism, albeit not through studies or public talks with gender experts and the like, but through films with a different, “modern” form From Disney Princess: Elsa from Frozen. The handling of the points of criticism in the new work was truly “blatant”.
“You can’t marry someone you’ve only known a day.”
Anna, Elsa’s sister and second protagonist, only dreams of one thing: finally finding love (and eating chocolate, because girls love chocolate, of course). She seems to do that too, because she meets Hans at a ball and it is truly love at first sight – which is immediately taken by Elsa, who was actually only supposed to give her blessing, and the wind is taken out of her sails: “You can don’t marry someone you’ve only known a day.”
There were Disney princesses that even took less than a day. In the course of the story, the film also makes fun of Anna and her definition of “love” through the character of Kristoff – and thus ultimately of Disney itself, after all Aurora (“Sleeping Beauty”), Snow White and Cinderella and their respective prince are allowed to be hardly known for more than a few hours. Disney turns to the critical viewers and says: “Haha, see? We think that’s silly too. Now go and watch more of our films, buy the merchandise and create an account on Disney+, after all we are all on the same side of ‘Wokeness’!”
When in doubt, Disney wins
Quite cynical and quite hypocritical, after all, at the end of the day Disney doesn’t care what you think of the films, how you feel about the representation of women, the unattainable body ideals and the diversity that only exists homeopathically (even if admittedly at this point that newer works like “Encanto” and “Raya and the Last Dragon” take diversity much more seriously. Disney is learning). As soon as you sit in the cinema, watch the film on DVD or stream it, Disney has won. Surely we can debate among ourselves and with our children the sense and nonsense of Ariel’s decision to vote for a man (which wasn’t that easy either), as long as the children have “The Little Mermaid” dolls, stuffed animals and – Wanting and getting linens, Disney can pat themselves on the back. But Disney’s hypocritical meta-criticism aside, are there valid criticisms of the older Disney princesses that deserve a closer look? In our picture gallery we take a closer look at some popular Disney princesses.
The criticism of the classic Disney princesses is justified – but so are the other sides
There isn’t just one possible view of the “old” Disney princesses and their history. A good artistic work is also made clear by the fact that different people with their individual stories and perspectives look at the work and evaluate it in just as different ways.
Belle can be seen as a feminist role model because of her thirst for knowledge, intelligence and willpower – or not because her story is ultimately determined by a man. “Beauty and the Beast” can be as much a fairy tale about forgiveness and friendship as it is a film in which the woman’s self-realization depends on the man. The heteronormative view of Ariel’s story is just as legitimate as the trans view. Cinderella is equally a role model for people in terms of friendliness and hope, as it represents unrealistic body ideals and far more absurd expectations of love.
Perspectives differ and most likely Disney is not responsible for little girls wanting to be princesses instead of doctors or CEOs of mega corporations – we are all responsible for that. And we can all tackle this together and as individuals by exchanging, reflecting and criticizing what we have seen. But please don’t insist on the one “correct” interpretation.
Sources used: youtube.com, slate.com, time.com, womensrepublic.net, collider.com, buzzfeed.com, hateaid.org, lifeline.de, screenrant.com