Disagree to Disliking Disney

Professor McCauliff was right when she said we might be offended or a little mad after today's lecture on children and princesses.  I don't see anything wrong with a little girl wanting to go to Disney World to meet her favorite princess, dressing up like her or even wanting to be her.  However, I do agree that some parents take it too far.

When I was a little girl, I watched every Disney movie on repeat; especially The Little Mermaid.  I dreamed of being like Ariel when I grew up.  When I say that, I don't mean that I dreamed about running away from my family, changing my body or giving up my strongest talents.  Sure, I wanted to be beautiful, but who doesn't?  I wanted to be like Ariel because she was independent.  She didn't do everything like her sisters because she wanted to stand out and be different.  She took a risk to be with a man she didn't know, but that seems pretty brave to me.  She also had a lot of sass about her (and I don't mean the child word for sexy either).  Ariel was a typical teenage girl who wanted to be her own person, and I loved that about her.

I completely understand that not all little girls think like this; many young children want to be a princess because they are beautiful, they wear a tiara and they can talk to animals (who wouldn't want that?).  But they are just kids.  They are allowed to dream and imagine themselves as princesses.  The real trouble is when parents encourage this throughout their lives.  At some point, parents need to make their child aware that this isn't a reality, but it is just fine to pretend that way at home while playing dress up.

In conclusion, Disney princesses teach a lot of positive things along with the negative.  Mulan defies gender stereotypes by secretly taking her father's place in the army.  Ariel is brave and does everything possible to get what she wants.  Pocahontas is spiritual, athletic and independent. Belle is unique and doesn't want to marry a man just because he is rich and handsome. Overall,  I just don't think it's time to ditch the "Little Princess" baby clothes just yet.