So why did I start this blog you ask?

I started this project for my American Mass & Popular Cultures class wanting to talk about the differences between the classic Grimms Brothers fairy tales and the Disney movie adaptations of them. My original goal was to try to sway people into reading the classic literature versions. After reading the original Grimms Brothers fairy tales and doing some research into the origins of some of them, I’m not sure that I would want parents to introduce their children to the classics or the Disney version. One thing that Grimms and Disney definitely have in common is sexism towards women. The purpose of this blog is mainly to point out the differences, similarities, and social issues in the Grimms Brothers versions and the Disney versions.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Disney and the “Heroine”



Disney’s versions of classic fairy tales have a character trait that definitely stands out in each of the lead female characters. Each female character is mainly introduced as a “heroine”, or at least a very independent woman. Then, somehow every time throughout the story they become in need of rescue from some burly man. Almost always in the end the characters get married.


Take Belle from Beauty and the Beast. When we meet Belle, she is introduced to us as a very intelligent young woman who loves to read. She is even disgusted at the idea of Gaston (one of the leading male characters) wanting to marry her. She acts like she doesn’t want to be married and wants to explore the world. But what kind of books does she read? Trashy romance novels! Then she is captured and locked up by the Beast. Although she struggles and stands ground when it comes to being a strong woman at first, she eventually gives in and feels sorry for the Beast because of his past. His past, might I remind you, was that he was placed under a curse for being full of himself and turning a poor beggar woman away. Really? That’s what we should teach our children? Even if someone is abusive towards you, as long as you work really hard to make them sophisticated, and not a jerk in general, then it’s okay to stay with them after all that they did. In the end, Belle and the Beast live happily ever after (after he’s turned into a handsome prince). I thought Belle wanted to see the world.


The one thing that really bugs me about Disney is how they teach little girls to be. They mention being an independent woman in the beginning of each story, and time after time the characters get married in the end and live happily ever after because of that. It really turns me off to the idea of letting my little sisters watch Disney movies.

2 comments:

  1. You do realize the Little Mermaid is not a Grimm. It’s by Hans Christian Andersen.

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  2. honestly the examples of the sexism is pretty retarded. the little mermaid having a sea shell bra, what do you expect living under the sea, a golden dress or seaweed or something. and being married at 16, in the medieval times princesses where married off at 16 if not 15 or 14 because they didnt live as long as we do know. the princesses frog thing back the woman didnt have much rights for certen things and a princesses followed orders. im gonna finish reading all of this but im just pointing out some of the stuff i think is dumb.

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