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.