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Disney princesses

Some Problems With Princesses

Media post by Aya de Leon on May 6, 2013 - 5:10pm; tagged Disney princesses.

 

ariel, jasmine, and pocahantas all skipping
Back in March, I wrote about my frustration with reading Disney's princess books to my daughter. Instead of reading her the actual words of the Snow White tale, I've taken to freestyling an alternative storyline where Snow White is an empowered dance instructor who also loves fresh fruit. A lot of people responded that they were also annoyed by the all the helpless princess storylines, but others noted that the princesses have evolved. “Disney princesses have come a long way in the 70 years since Snow White," wrote one reader.
In some ways, this is true. In other ways, the princesses are worse now than they were in 1940.
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BiblioBitch: The Stepsister Scheme

Books post by Katie Presley on January 23, 2013 - 3:07pm; tagged BiblioBitch, books, Disney princesses, fantasy, princesses, YA fiction.

Biblio Bitch

The Stepsister Scheme

Here are a few key words regarding Jim C. Hines's The Stepsister Scheme. Snow White, promiscuous mirror witch. Sleeping Beauty, Middle Eastern assassin. Cinderella, Pregnant Prince-rescuer. Intrigued? I was, and also by the statement given me that this was "Feminist YA fantasy! Written by a DUDE!" when it was given to me. I was not disappointed. C'mon! Princesses with weapons, spells, and babies on board? I'M IN.

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Bridal Party: Disney's Got You! Or Does It?

Social Commentary post by Michael Braithwaite on July 10, 2012 - 10:09am; tagged Child Psychology and Advertising, Disney, Disney princesses, Disney weddings, Theme Weddings.

Did you know that Disney does weddings? Of course you did, even if only intuitively. But it goes beyond a simple extravagant wedding at Disneyland, Disney World, or Epcot Center. Disney takes the whole "be a princess on your wedding day" thing all the way, having developed a comprehensive wedding industry around its fleet of princess characters. Pause and think about the far-reaching, complex implications of this. 

A still from the Disney movie Cinderella next to a photo of a couple in wedding attire mirroring the image
The Cinderella Gown, designed for women who want to emulate a woman who had a really rough childhood before getting rescued by a rich guy at a party.
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