Its been a hot minute and we left off the last entry with the fabulous and intelligent Belle who led by example how being an outcast bookworm who thinks outside the box may be the one thing that saves the town from its own stupidity.
Or at least thats the one I'd rather leave off with...
Here's where Disney decided "Hey, its time to insert some diversity into this snow parade!"
Enter Jasmine (1992)
Nevermind that she looks like an Arabian hooker and I could deal with the fact that she sets a horrible example by disrespecting her father and setting insane hair expectations.
But Disney also seemed to think that realistic Muslims anywhere (let alone the middle east) let their daughters go out like this....
but even without all the blatant visual innuendo, she's still a 16 year old runaway who gave up her riches, and a lush palace lifestyle to sneak out, go into a strange ghetto with no money, no protection, and shacks up with a homeless thief.
Would YOUR parents let you bring home a strange hoodlum to inherit the kingdom you're supposed to rule?
Heart of gold or not, in reality, the Sultan would've sent a slough of palace guards and chased him off......oh wait. That actually happened. Jafar just kinda warped the whole parenting situation is all.
Abu seemed to be the only realistic one during the whole thing.
Next on our list of princesses is our lovely Native American representative...
This is a tougher analysis because I don't know enough about Native American culture and the traditional gender roles of the respective tribes, however, based on what I do know, she's not that different in the cliche thought process of...
"screw my benevolent father and best friend who just want me to be safe, I'll go running toward the white strangers who shoot at my people because NO ONE can constrain my curiosity! I'll jump off waterfalls and make out with perfect strangers in the woods if I want to! Its okay, I can make it better!"
I haz a diplomacy!!!!!
Yes...well... as nice as her intentions may have been, it still set a poor example of
1. hair (she didn't even HAVE a hair brush for cryin out loud!!!)
2. punishment (everything turned out hunky dory even though she disobeyed her father)
3. conflict resolution
Even though the initial intent was to promote equality in the face of mutual bigotry, the directors could've done a better job creating a strong female role model who doesn't have to rebel to learn a lesson but then I suppose there wouldn't be any dramatic climax.
But I will say that, like Belle, her accountability level was a step above the rest, which is good.
Next contestant is the lovely and powerful asian representative...
Okay here is a princess (who's technically not really a princess), with more nads than all the princes combined.
She wouldn't just spout "world peace" at a pageant, she'd actually take steps to get it done somehow.
Granted that cross-dressing isn't the traditional route to achieve goals such as, oh I don't know, saving the country from invasion, but hey, it was a means to an end...
Come on now. Which would YOU rather have yelling at you every day? Totally worth the hair cut.
My favorite thing about Mulan was that her goal was not the guy (he was just an unexpected bonus), or even something as grandiose as saving China, but her only intention was to save her ailing father from almost certain death. Thats it. Self sacrifice and stepping up to the plate (even if you didn't quite think it all the way through).
Except for stealing and sneaking out, Mulan is the epitome of a bad ass, making feminists everywhere beam with pride.
Alrighty, who in the last 80 or so years has NOT been represented?
It was an interesting coincidence that the very same year we swear in the nation's first biracial president we also introduce our first African American Disney princess representative...
The lovely and ambitious Tiana!!!
Took them long enough didn't it? Here's where Disney kept the trend of strong female leads going with princesses who put their ambitions and family BEFORE finding the prince. All she wanted to do was open a cajun restaurant in honor of her parents and make a name for herself in the southern food industry. She didn't care about finding love or glory or the other traditional fairy tale goals. Just being a successful entrepreneur in 1940's Louisiana was dream enough for her (considering how difficult it was for African Americans at that time and place in history as it is).
Granted she spent the better part of the movie as an amphibian, she was the one who taught the misguided prince to stand on his own two feet and wound up rescuing him from various dangers including himself.
Aside from the whole "turning people into frogs and talking gators playing jazz trumpet" aspects of the film, Tiana's character traits are applicable in realistic situations.
1. honoring parents, 2. working hard for what you want, 3. being responsible and 4. kindness
All attributes that I would readily encourage in any child through this movie.
We're almost done!!!
Another princess I will address is none other than the long haired dreamer...
She was more goofy than a serious character, but her timid, sweet nature is a much more acceptible role model for a little girl than Jasmine's curvy alluring image (unless you're a Kardashian).
Making the most of her imprisonment and temporarily popularizing chameleons as pets.
Her "prince" was little more than a common shameless thief, however, he quickly succumbed to the awesome power of the frying pan.
Improvisation is the first step to adapting to life without doors or a way to defend yourself.
She just wanted to know her origins, why she's locked up and wtf are those lights all about!?
All of which we take for granted (unless you're adopted)
Simple enough, right? Easy to appreciate great musical numbers and the way she stays true to herself and her conscience even through overwhelming disappointment and danger.
Last but not least we have a more believable ginger representative....
She's feisty, she's an adventurous archer, and she makes me feel better about my hair situation...
Even though she sold out her own mother to a strange witch just to win an argument, she quickly learns that defending her family and appreciating her mother's benevolent intentions is worth much more than the daily annoyances of princess-hood.
Well there you have it! A summative analysis of all the primary Disney Princesses! Comments welcome!
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