Everyone growing up watched Disney movies. They’re all classics. My family especially all loved anything Disney. I loved the princesses and princes and the love stories. Everything I wanted out of a movie was found in all these Disney classics as a child.
With everything going out in Hollywood today about females in the media and how they are represented, it has made me reflect on every film and television show I have watched and has made me think back to how these females were represented.
We got into an interesting conversation in our Animated Perspectives class the other day about females especially in animated Disney movies. There were points brought up about why does the princess always have to end up with a prince? Why is the female always just looking for romance and not something more out of life? I felt as if my favorite childhood movies were being criticized for misrepresenting females. This conversation stayed with me for a while. I am all for women being empowered, strong, and not just being looked at for their appearance and body. I also believe on the other hand, that everyone wants romance. Why can’t we have both?
Disney movies to me aren’t just about the girl getting the guy and they lived happily ever after. I feel like that ending is important though because it made me dream of finding a real love and that does exist in the world. Maybe it is because I am a hopeless romantic, but I always loved the happy ending and romance in Disney movies. I feel like every person looks to find that special someone and I don’t think having this idea in Disney movies is a negative at all or an attack on female empowerment.
I feel like the romance in Disney movies doesn’t take away from the main character’s objective. I feel as though yes, there is romance, but there is also a different goal. I have thought a lot since this conversation in class about how females are represented in Disney movies. Disney puts out films that appeal to all audiences. They would never make a movie that made females seem weak. I think having a strong and independent princess as the main character is actually a great thing. It inspired me not to just aspire to be a princess and get married, but I see all these Disney princesses also going out seeking other things in life.
Princess Jasmine didn’t even want to get married. The entire movie she relentlessly tells her father how she doesn’t want to be traditional and find a husband. Ariel just wants to be on her own and not be under her father’s watch all the time. She just wants to explore being on land. Does any of this directly correlate to romance and finding a man? I don’t think so.
Some could argue this young love in these movies also sends the wrong message to little girls but I disagree. I think if anything, it shows you to want to create your own path and journey, as all these Disney princesses do. If you meet the love of you life along the way great, but it’s not a requirement to being happy, it’s a bonus.
I think Disney movies are actually positively influential on young girls and aren’t sending the wrong message. I think these movies can be inspiring for girls to be strong and that you don’t need a guy to be happy, but also if you find a true love, it can be truly magical.
