I have no doubt that there has been a disturbing trend in "Disney princess" movies. I doubt anyone in class today did either. It is obvious that the hegemonic powers at be have made these characters white, beautiful, and maybe a little dumb. It seems to me that when these movies started being made, this was really just the way the world was operating. However, as society evolved slowly but surely, these movies seem to stay stuck in time. It is only now that these movie are joining us all in the 21st century. Movies like Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty were such huge money makers for Disney, I am sure the execs figured "if it's not broke, don't fix it." Unfortunately this has not been the only problem associated with these films.
Unintentionally or intentionally, these movies have affected some girls and women in ways they probably don't even realize. The messages in these movies, especially since they are repeated and repeated, have to have had an effect on the forming brains of young girls. Pulling from personal experience, I know a woman in her very early 30's who still desires to be a Disney princess. She is a completely normal, mature individual. However, my Halloween is not complete without seeing this individual in a new Disney princess costume. She is a professional actress so that possible helps it make more sense, but it is quite disturbing. I can only imagine if this perfectly sane person has an obsession like this, how many others are out there that might really believe they are a princess.
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