You are so so right about all of that. Ariel is such a great princess, I'm so when happy people can understand that she didn't do everything for Eric and being part of "that" world was her goal from the beginning of the film.
My favorite is Ariel. I like her curiosity & enthusiasm. I also like that she is adventurous. I don't think she is anti feminist. She saved Eric twice in the movie. She is also assertive. She doesn't wait for things to happen. I'm tired of the argument she gave up her voice for a man. She always wanted to be a human. She sang Part of Your World before she discovered Eric. If King Triton didn't destroy her treasures, she probably wouldn't have done what she did.
I'd like to point out that in The Little Mermaid, Ursula insinuated that Ariel's prime motive for wanting legs was her prince, but she wanted to be a human before she ever laid eyes on him. "Part of Your World" was sung at humanity in general. Even in the reprise, Eric was only a piece of the bigger picture.
Also Ariel said in poor unfortunate souls that without her voice and then Ursula started saying she has the looks and body language. So Ariel did think about her voice.
that is true , I am a woman and I am agreed with you , a man doesnt need a woman for to be happy , I dont think is good idea our happiness depend on another person it doesnt matter if you are a man or a woman , I give you a like to your comentary , very wise and clever comentary.
I think the problem is when people criticize these movies, they don't think of the context of these movies. These movies are based off old fairytales that were written hundreds of years ago. Women back then were viewed as second class citizens. The older films in particular (Snow White, Cinderella, & Sleeping Beauty) were made in a time when women were expected to stay home, clean the house, wash the dishes, make & cook dinner, & take care of the children. As women have progressed in history, so have Disney Princesses.
disneymagic93 Ikr! Also, at the time of the classic Disney films released, there was still the slightest bit of misogyny in society, and after feminism has taken over, every Disney princess has decided to be single just so they can please the feminists.
Ariel because of how inquisitive she is, in not just accepting life as it's been shown to her, she wants to find out more about it for herself. Also the colour of her hair is just awesome =P
i love ariel, mainly because shes a mermaid and has awesome red hair, but ive grown to love her for how passionate she is. i kinda hate it when people mistake her intentions as "she wants to get the guy" because shes been in love with the human world from the very beginning and has broken the rules for it prior. rescuing eric only pushed her over the edge into "i will get there somehow", and ursulas conveniently timed arrival certainly didnt hurt either. she was so passionate that she was-
I've always loved Belle the most because she was constantly putting others before herself-- literally ready to sacrifice her happiness and her life for the ones she loved. She cared deeply for others and brought out the goodness that was buried there.
In the past year or so (as I've become more invested in issues of feminism), I've been tempted to not like some of the Disney princesses, but then I remember I watched & loved all these films growing up, & even at age 6, what I took away from them wasn't "I need a prince charming", but all the other strengths, especially Ariel's desire to see more of the world & meet people w/different views & cultures from her own. (also wanting to find love doesn't make you less of a feminist) :) Great video!
Well articulated, thanks for making this. My favourite used to be Belle because we both have brown hair, but it's now been Mulan for quite some time. Her level of badassery is just off the charts.
What an excellent video! Your animations, as always were A+ too. My favourite princesses are Belle and Tiana, curiosity, hard work and perseverance being some of the qualities I most value in myself and others.
My favorite has always been Jasmine. As a kid, it was mostly because I thought I looked a bit like her, but as I've gotten older I have started to appreciate her strength more and more. I love how smart and vocal she is.
This. Thank you for this. And as a child my favorite was always Belle because she looked the most like me (brown hair, brown eyes) and read books (like I loved to) so it was wonderful to see her being amazing. Recently I've fallen quite a bit in love with Mulan and Jasmine as well though!
I love this and feel the same way. My favorite princesses are Aurora and Pocahontas. What I love about Aurora is the fact that she does have the willingness to follow her heart even though her guardians might not agree, and also the fact that she becomes devastated when she learns she is a princess showing that she is perfectly happy being with her family alone in a cottage and that riches dont make you happy. What I love about Pocahontas is that she appeals to my hippie/animal loving side :)
Merida is my favourite. I love the whole Scottish culture and red heads a lot, so before I even knew anything about the plot, I fell in love. I love everything about Brave, so it's hard to pinpoint why I favour her as opposed to others, but there are many personal reasons as to why
Fantastic video! Really great insight and I'm glad this is being discussed. :) It's important to take a critical look at things we like. I grew up with Disney, and I like a lot of things about the movies, but I know there are a lot of problematic things within them. I can't choose a favourite Disney princesses because so many of them possess qualities I find admirable! :) Tiana's dedication and perseverance for achieving her goals, Ariel's curiosity about worlds completely different than hers, Belle's kindness, and love of books, and Merida's defiance and how she challenges tradition.
I love so many things about the different princesses but I do admire Jasmine's spirit. One of my favourite lines in all the movies is when she storms into the room as Jafar and "Prince Ali" are arguing over her, and she declares "I am not a prize to be won". I love that.
Cinderella let the mice do 90% of the work? Go watch the movie again, dear. Cinderella did ALL of the chores for her sisters and stepsisters. The only two things the mice did was make her dress (which she DIDNT ASK them to do) and get the key (she was locked btw so what the hell could she have done?) Stop saying such ignorant things like that.
-willing to do something potentially dangerous (as her father had warned her) to both prove king triton wrong and get where/what she wanted, even if it meant possibly losing something as important as her voice
What a brilliant brilliant video!! :) you have such a good point that is so important to not dismiss something just because you find one thing wrong with it. It is okay to like something that is problematic as long as we acknowledge that.
i've watched this twice today and just think it's so lovely of you to say these things and get these ideas out. i identify a lot with the earlier princesses... like, my goal in life is to be a SAHM but that doesn't mean that i'm not a smart, strong, independent woman with lots of other admirable qualities or that i don't have issues or see problem areas that need worked on in myself or in society.
My favorites are Belle and Mulan. I loved Belle as a kid because she taught me that I could be a quite kid with my nose in a book and that was ok. She also stood up to the town's people defending her geeky family, and literally sacrificed her life for the one person she loved- her father. My love for Mulan also come from this place. She went to war so that her father could not be pressed into service, switching her life for his. She taught perseverance, she showed us the importance of good friends, and proved that intelligence can win over brute strength.
This is probably my favourite video to ever happen, bless you! I'm constantly arguing with people about the good traits of the early princesses because even though they have flaws in their writing, everyone seems WAY too keen to just write them off now as negative and ignoring their really admirable qualities. I think the past few years have seen a rise in people favouring "typically bad ass" women and condemning traditional femininity for somehow being anti-feminist, which is really misguided.
I love you for making this. My cousin is ten and has never seen a single Disney Princess movie because my aunt doesn't want her to "need a man" like they do. Well then TALK to her about what was good and bad about the women as role models. Kids see less than strong female characters on a daily basis no matter how hard you try to shield them. Talk to your kids about why these characters aren't okay BUT what's good about them and why their stories are cherished as classics.
You have Disneyworld maps behind you! :O You probably already know that, that just got me really excited. I agree with, and think all the points you made in this video are valid. You were also very quick and to the point, which is refreshing. :) Keep up the good work!
Fantastic! Ironically I was watching Feminist Frequency earlier and felt like her videos where trying to convey this exact message but didn't quite hit the mark for me. Great Job!
My long-time favorite is Snow White, because she is the most beautiful. My recent favorite is Elsa, because she is the most empowered. Her sister Anna is a close runner-up. Elsa got the best song, making her more memorable. I also love Rapunzel, who is a good mix of beauty and empowerment.
I'm really indecisive, I like Rapunzel, Jasmine, and Cinderella the most. Rapunzel is so passionate and she deals with something really real (emotional abuse and manipulation from her mother) and she's just very creative and brave, I love that. Jasmine always stayed true to herself and she knew what she wanted and she got it. Cinderella is just so hopeful and patient.
Merida & Cinderella. Merida went against everything she had been taught and told her throughout most of her life and came out on top for the better. Cinderella lived through extreme cruelty at the hands of her step mother and always managed to remain a beacon of kindness, love, and even respect.
My favourite Disney princess is Rapunzel. I guess I can just really relate with her desire to escape her overprotective family and family and be her own person. I also loved how she had some really traditional feminine traits, but she was also clever and adventurous and funny! She was the perfect example that you can wear a pretty dress, and have long flowy hair, and fall in love, and still be a total badass.
I loved this. I always been very defensive of disney because I grew up on it and most of my friends did and we took away the good lessons from the films
Rapunzel is my favourite princess and I can never manage to put my feelings about her into words but there is just something about her that makes me love her so much. I do strongly relate, obviously not physically trapped in a tower but most teenage girls feel locked away at some point in their life and when she takes her life into her own hands it gives me the confidence to do the same? I don't know I can't word it but I just love Rapunzel a lot.
I'm not saying you have to make that but I just wanted to say that I would have watched it! I recently have really gotten in to talking about Disney Princesses in that sense. It's so awesome.
Ariel has always been my favourite because 1. mermaid 2. gets to live in the ocean 3. dreams of being part of the human world 4. finds a way to make that dream a reality and fights for what she wants. I also love Esmerelda, Rapunzel and Pocahontas, and I see different parts of myself in each character. Rapunzel is a little naive but full of optimism, Esmerelda is defiant and opinionated, and Pocahontas is diplomatic and independant. They all fight for what they want and what they believe in.
Thank You SO Much for making this video! I am taking a class on Disney and right now we are talking about this (it feels like we are always talking about this). I am going to show this video in class so people finally understand a perspective that does not villainize the Princesses with regards to modern feminism! My favorite Princess is Ariel because she recognizes that to be happy she has to chose her own path in life and then she works tirelessly to actualize that goal!
Thank you for this! My favorite actually has to be Snow White. I agree with you. Even though she appears weak, she has certain things about her that make her truly admirable (at least to me). I also love Merida because I can relate, and Mulan because, well, too many reasons.
I love Belle because she didn't just fall in love with the first hot guy she saw, she fell in love with the guy who became a better person because she inspired him to do so.
It's very difficult to make Aurora a not-passive character because, you know, it's SLEEPING Beauty, but I always liked about that movie that you get to know Prince Phillip fairly well and see his struggles as well as Aurora's.
A good point to bring up too in defending Snow, and Cinderella is that Mulan was just like them in the beginning of the movie. Mulan could not fight until she went to the army. How in any point of Snow White's life being held as a slave and basically her self esteem being torn down could she have been taught to defend her self. Being closed off from the world she's innocent at heart. She is still a nice person even when her life is always in danger.
You are so eloquent! For some reason, this video reminded me a bit of a John Green Thoughts from Places video.. so much blow-your-mind eloquence and awesomness :D Absolutely loved this topic and your insight!
That's a very interesting point that I've actually never heard before. Speaking from my experience of being a four year old girl, the idea of being a princess is very appealing and it is easy to market on. But we should remember that practically all Disney films are based off of classic fairy tales (some more loosely based than others), but if you're going to question the glorification of aristocracy in Disney films, you should probably start with those original stories.
Mulan and Merida, hands down! They are both bad arse who teach us to be brave and originality especially in times of fear. boh, I'd love me some merida merchandise.
Jasmine and Belle are my favorite princesses. Belle for making such a sacrifice for her father, her willingness and ability to look beyond what her eyes see, and her love of books. Jasmine for knowing what she wants, her willingness to fight for it, and "I am not a prize to be won".
On a side point, I think it was Milt Kahl (or Eric Larson) who said animating the Prince in the movie was very painful because they all have to look generic so that every one can root for the good guy. Its easier to animate extreme attitude. so I understand why the princes meld together but there is a reason why.
Tangled and Frozen right now are my favorites because for both Rapunzel and Anna the romance is still there but it isn't the end all purpose of the film. For Frozen of course the focus is the sisters, and for Tangled really the focus is Rapunzel seizing the life she was denied in the tower and finding herself. I like that because the romance is still there which for most of us is true, but there other things shown to be important.
I really like Belle, the fact that she chooses to be kept as a prisoner for her dad to be free, shows a lot of strength to me. She also tries to se beyond what she "should" like in a man and gets to know the beast properly. And she loves books! :)
Thanks Marina! This means a lot coming from you because you are like the Queen of Feminism. Seriously. In my mind you have like a throne and everything.
What I think is pretty nice is how in Frozen, it's shown how love is not as simple as one might like it to be, and we need to be careful about falling for someone before we know them ... or else it's not really "true love" anyway :D Pretty big contrast to older disney films, even though I like Sleeping beauty and all that shit too :/
RAPUNZEL. Apart from the fact that Tangled is one of my favourite Disney movies (It and Sleeping Beauty switch places sometimes), I love that Rapunzel is naive but still useful and badass, sometimes even because of that naivety. For instance, that whole scene in the Snuggly Duckling was going to shit before Rapunzel started asking the ruffians if they'd ever had a dream. If she had been more jaded she wouldn't have thought to do that, and it ended up saving the day. Also she's adorable.
Belle was the first character three year old me ever related to and wanted to be . She's kind ,bookish and sees the beauty is only skin deep . She doesn't care about being liked by the people in her village or getting a man at the beginning of the movie .
Oh, and my favourite "princesses" are: Jasmine, Belle, Mulan and Esmeralda. Overall I always liked beauty and the beast as well as Mulan best, because one shows the importance of intelligence and kindness and the other one shows the value of family and courage. I feel like the theme is not just represented by the protagonists, but throughout the whole film. Also, you gotta admit, Mulan's granny is the most badass of them all
I agree you shudnt just judge with blind folds on Disney is about having a dream and working towards that with hard work while being true to urself and always follow you heart I love Disney and always b a kid at heart :D
This video was excellent! My favorite changes a lot, but it's probably Rapunzel or Belle. Ooh and I love Jasmine. And Merida. And Tiana. And well, all of them? I most relate to Rapunzel though and my friends always called me Ariel because of my red hair. So those two are pretty special to me.
My favorite is probably Belle. She loves books, and she doesn't care what other people think of her. Her lesson is also a valuable one; to appreciate people for who they are, not what they look like (or your first impression of them!)
My favorite princess is Belle! Mostly because I basically was her as a child; but also because I feel like, as a feminist, she speaks to a really important idea of women being educated and using that knowledge in useful/cool ways. There's also a really important theme of self-sacrifice and internal beauty in that story that I feel like the Disney version draws out nicely without making the whole thing creepy.
This is extremely accurate and I love you for making it. One thing that's important to remember is that when these movies were made, gender roles were COMPLETELY different . In the time period that some of these were created, it was perfectly normal for a woman's goal to simply find a man and no one would have seen a problem with it. But obviously we have progressed since then (as seen in more recent films) and that's the important part!
Thank you so much for this! I definitely agree with you. I think a lot of what I see of feminism gets it wrong - that female characters have to be strong and independent of men in order to be good women or whatever. However just because some princesses are involved with men or are maybe not as physically strong doesn't mean they aren't complex human beings. There's definitely a lot of misunderstanding of what "strong" female characters are. I think people are way too focused on the word "strong"
YES MEG! Ahhh I really disliked her when I was a kid but I absolutely LOVE her now and wish she got to be on 'princess' level too. She's so badass. She's selfless and has made mistakes because of it but has learned and grown. She's strong and tries to be as independent as she can be but still falls in love with Hercules. Anyway yes, good picks ;)
I'm taking a class right now called Deconstructing Disney and it's all about this kind of stuff. I know that all of the Disney films have their flaws with their messages about femininity and whatnot (don't get me started on the villains), but I would say that the more recent princesses are much less oppressed, like Belle and Pocahontas who are in the middle of the action, not just saving the Prince, but also making a change in their respective communities.
My favorite princesses are Mulan, Jasmine, and Cinderella. I love Jasmine because she, even though the story wasn't about her, stood up for herself and did as much as she could to get away from Jafar. Cinderella because she worked hard and it paid off, even though it was in the form of a fairy godmother and it's not very practical. I guess it just ties into my belief in karma. And of course, Mulan is just awesome in so many ways.
Really rather than shunning older princesses people should think of this as Disney adapting to change in how we see romance. The princes have evolved over time from "the prince" who the heroine loves "just because" to full fledged characters. Naveen and Flynn are my favourite Disney princes because before they even fall for their leading lady they form a genuine friendship and it blossoms into love.
The princess/prince kiss present in so many Disney movies was absolutely and completely OFF my radar when I was watching these movies as a kid. I was way more interested in the adventure and the fantasy worlds to care about that stuff. Then again I was a boy, so I can't speak for what a little girl would have valued in the movies.
Rapunzel bacause not only does she follow her dreams and folkow her heart but she's pretty kick ass with all her different ways of using her hair to get out of bad situations. Not to mention to frying pan.
YES. Thank you for making this video. Feminism is about celebrating women as a whole, not just the ones that defy traditional gender roles. Also, Mulan is my girl.
I love Rapunzel, but this mostly comes down to the fact that i have really long blonde hair and have jokingly been referred to as Rapunzel my entire life but also because I think she shows a young girl who does fall in love but is also legitimately awesome. I also think that it's really easy to create modern female characters that just become more "manly" to be feminist and I love that Rapunzel is fantastic and strong and brave but is also kinda girly.
Has anyone ever told You that You look just like Lindsay from "Freaks and Geeks"? Maybe it's just me, but You remind me of Her so much! Oh, and great video! I've just recently become much more interested in feminism, and want to read and know more and more on this subject. This video is perfect. Thank You for talking about this.
My favorite was Jasmine because she was the only princess who waved back at me at Disneyland. However, I'm starting to shift towards Vanellope von Schweetz because who wouldn't want a candy kingdom?! Lol :)
I think Jasmine was always my favourite princess cos she was so sassy and she just wanted freedom. Also pocahontas was indian jasmine was arabian tiana was black and mulan was chinese and they were all very strong and independent. Strange...
You are so so right about all of that. Ariel is such a great princess, I'm so when happy people can understand that she didn't do everything for Eric and being part of "that" world was her goal from the beginning of the film.
My favorite is Ariel. I like her curiosity & enthusiasm. I also like that she is adventurous. I don't think she is anti feminist. She saved Eric twice in the movie. She is also assertive. She doesn't wait for things to happen. I'm tired of the argument she gave up her voice for a man. She always wanted to be a human. She sang Part of Your World before she discovered Eric. If King Triton didn't destroy her treasures, she probably wouldn't have done what she did.
I'd like to point out that in The Little Mermaid, Ursula insinuated that Ariel's prime motive for wanting legs was her prince, but she wanted to be a human before she ever laid eyes on him. "Part of Your World" was sung at humanity in general. Even in the reprise, Eric was only a piece of the bigger picture.
Thank you! Oh and Ariel didn't think about Ursula until her father destroyed her collection and flotsam and jetsam.
Also Ariel said in poor unfortunate souls that without her voice and then Ursula started saying she has the looks and body language. So Ariel did think about her voice.
Just like a women does not need a man to be happy neither does a man need a women to be happy.
***** when did she said that?
in her musical she only sings about avoiding all responsibilities and how insecure she felt being around people XD
that is true , I am a woman and I am agreed with you , a man doesnt need a woman for to be happy , I dont think is good idea our happiness depend on another person it doesnt matter if you are a man or a woman , I give you a like to your comentary , very wise and clever comentary.
I think the problem is when people criticize these movies, they don't think of the context of these movies. These movies are based off old fairytales that were written hundreds of years ago. Women back then were viewed as second class citizens. The older films in particular (Snow White, Cinderella, & Sleeping Beauty) were made in a time when women were expected to stay home, clean the house, wash the dishes, make & cook dinner, & take care of the children. As women have progressed in history, so have Disney Princesses.
disneymagic93 Ikr! Also, at the time of the classic Disney films released, there was still the slightest bit of misogyny in society, and after feminism has taken over, every Disney princess has decided to be single just so they can please the feminists.
Camz You’re absolutely right. I’m so tired of political correctness.
disneymagic93 you know frozen was originally a femenist story .,, until Disney Disney it up
Ariel because of how inquisitive she is, in not just accepting life as it's been shown to her, she wants to find out more about it for herself. Also the colour of her hair is just awesome =P
i love ariel, mainly because shes a mermaid and has awesome red hair, but ive grown to love her for how passionate she is. i kinda hate it when people mistake her intentions as "she wants to get the guy" because shes been in love with the human world from the very beginning and has broken the rules for it prior. rescuing eric only pushed her over the edge into "i will get there somehow", and ursulas conveniently timed arrival certainly didnt hurt either. she was so passionate that she was-
I've always loved Belle the most because she was constantly putting others before herself-- literally ready to sacrifice her happiness and her life for the ones she loved. She cared deeply for others and brought out the goodness that was buried there.
In the past year or so (as I've become more invested in issues of feminism), I've been tempted to not like some of the Disney princesses, but then I remember I watched & loved all these films growing up, & even at age 6, what I took away from them wasn't "I need a prince charming", but all the other strengths, especially Ariel's desire to see more of the world & meet people w/different views & cultures from her own. (also wanting to find love doesn't make you less of a feminist) :) Great video!
Well articulated, thanks for making this.
My favourite used to be Belle because we both have brown hair, but it's now been Mulan for quite some time. Her level of badassery is just off the charts.
What an excellent video! Your animations, as always were A+ too.
My favourite princesses are Belle and Tiana, curiosity, hard work and perseverance being some of the qualities I most value in myself and others.
My favorite has always been Jasmine. As a kid, it was mostly because I thought I looked a bit like her, but as I've gotten older I have started to appreciate her strength more and more. I love how smart and vocal she is.
This is fantastic! Thank you for making this! Also my favorites are Cinderella and Rapunzel. But I love all of them and Mulan is so kick ass
I agree! I never thought the kiss was the climax of any Disney film. For me, it's always the moment the hero conquers the villian
This. Thank you for this. And as a child my favorite was always Belle because she looked the most like me (brown hair, brown eyes) and read books (like I loved to) so it was wonderful to see her being amazing. Recently I've fallen quite a bit in love with Mulan and Jasmine as well though!
I love this and feel the same way. My favorite princesses are Aurora and Pocahontas.
What I love about Aurora is the fact that she does have the willingness to follow her heart even though her guardians might not agree, and also the fact that she becomes devastated when she learns she is a princess showing that she is perfectly happy being with her family alone in a cottage and that riches dont make you happy.
What I love about Pocahontas is that she appeals to my hippie/animal loving side :)
AMEN!!!! Gosh I love all the princess! But my top 4 are Rapunzel, Belle, Mulan, & Ariel!!!
Merida is my favourite. I love the whole Scottish culture and red heads a lot, so before I even knew anything about the plot, I fell in love.
I love everything about Brave, so it's hard to pinpoint why I favour her as opposed to others, but there are many personal reasons as to why
Fantastic video! Really great insight and I'm glad this is being discussed. :) It's important to take a critical look at things we like. I grew up with Disney, and I like a lot of things about the movies, but I know there are a lot of problematic things within them.
I can't choose a favourite Disney princesses because so many of them possess qualities I find admirable! :) Tiana's dedication and perseverance for achieving her goals, Ariel's curiosity about worlds completely different than hers, Belle's kindness, and love of books, and Merida's defiance and how she challenges tradition.
I love so many things about the different princesses but I do admire Jasmine's spirit. One of my favourite lines in all the movies is when she storms into the room as Jafar and "Prince Ali" are arguing over her, and she declares "I am not a prize to be won". I love that.
Cinderella let the mice do 90% of the work? Go watch the movie again, dear. Cinderella did ALL of the chores for her sisters and stepsisters. The only two things the mice did was make her dress (which she DIDNT ASK them to do) and get the key (she was locked btw so what the hell could she have done?)
Stop saying such ignorant things like that.
Exactly. Cinderella did ALL the chores with NO assistance from the mice.
Ariel, loved her overall story, used to be obsessed with mermaids, and am still obsessed with redheads/gingers. So yeah. :P
Her story is one of the reasons why Ariel is my favorite
My favorite princesses are Ariel , Anna , Belle and Mulan. :)
-willing to do something potentially dangerous (as her father had warned her) to both prove king triton wrong and get where/what she wanted, even if it meant possibly losing something as important as her voice
What a brilliant brilliant video!! :) you have such a good point that is so important to not dismiss something just because you find one thing wrong with it. It is okay to like something that is problematic as long as we acknowledge that.
i've watched this twice today and just think it's so lovely of you to say these things and get these ideas out. i identify a lot with the earlier princesses... like, my goal in life is to be a SAHM but that doesn't mean that i'm not a smart, strong, independent woman with lots of other admirable qualities or that i don't have issues or see problem areas that need worked on in myself or in society.
My favorites are Belle and Mulan. I loved Belle as a kid because she taught me that I could be a quite kid with my nose in a book and that was ok. She also stood up to the town's people defending her geeky family, and literally sacrificed her life for the one person she loved- her father. My love for Mulan also come from this place. She went to war so that her father could not be pressed into service, switching her life for his. She taught perseverance, she showed us the importance of good friends, and proved that intelligence can win over brute strength.
This is probably my favourite video to ever happen, bless you!
I'm constantly arguing with people about the good traits of the early princesses because even though they have flaws in their writing, everyone seems WAY too keen to just write them off now as negative and ignoring their really admirable qualities.
I think the past few years have seen a rise in people favouring "typically bad ass" women and condemning traditional femininity for somehow being anti-feminist, which is really misguided.
I love you for making this. My cousin is ten and has never seen a single Disney Princess movie because my aunt doesn't want her to "need a man" like they do. Well then TALK to her about what was good and bad about the women as role models. Kids see less than strong female characters on a daily basis no matter how hard you try to shield them. Talk to your kids about why these characters aren't okay BUT what's good about them and why their stories are cherished as classics.
You have Disneyworld maps behind you! :O You probably already know that, that just got me really excited.
I agree with, and think all the points you made in this video are valid. You were also very quick and to the point, which is refreshing. :) Keep up the good work!
Fantastic! Ironically I was watching Feminist Frequency earlier and felt like her videos where trying to convey this exact message but didn't quite hit the mark for me. Great Job!
My long-time favorite is Snow White, because she is the most beautiful. My recent favorite is Elsa, because she is the most empowered. Her sister Anna is a close runner-up. Elsa got the best song, making her more memorable. I also love Rapunzel, who is a good mix of beauty and empowerment.
I'm really indecisive, I like Rapunzel, Jasmine, and Cinderella the most. Rapunzel is so passionate and she deals with something really real (emotional abuse and manipulation from her mother) and she's just very creative and brave, I love that. Jasmine always stayed true to herself and she knew what she wanted and she got it. Cinderella is just so hopeful and patient.
Ariel and Tiana are my favorite too :))
I like Belle as well!
Merida & Cinderella. Merida went against everything she had been taught and told her throughout most of her life and came out on top for the better. Cinderella lived through extreme cruelty at the hands of her step mother and always managed to remain a beacon of kindness, love, and even respect.
My favourite Disney princess is Rapunzel. I guess I can just really relate with her desire to escape her overprotective family and family and be her own person. I also loved how she had some really traditional feminine traits, but she was also clever and adventurous and funny! She was the perfect example that you can wear a pretty dress, and have long flowy hair, and fall in love, and still be a total badass.
I loved this. I always been very defensive of disney because I grew up on it and most of my friends did and we took away the good lessons from the films
Hey, I have that Rapunzel and Flynn picture that you have on your wall on the wall in my room! Yay Wonderground Gallery! :D Love that drawing.!
i'm pretty much a princess, so i'm my favorite
Rapunzel is my favourite princess and I can never manage to put my feelings about her into words but there is just something about her that makes me love her so much. I do strongly relate, obviously not physically trapped in a tower but most teenage girls feel locked away at some point in their life and when she takes her life into her own hands it gives me the confidence to do the same? I don't know I can't word it but I just love Rapunzel a lot.
I'm not saying you have to make that but I just wanted to say that I would have watched it! I recently have really gotten in to talking about Disney Princesses in that sense. It's so awesome.
Ariel has always been my favourite because 1. mermaid 2. gets to live in the ocean 3. dreams of being part of the human world 4. finds a way to make that dream a reality and fights for what she wants. I also love Esmerelda, Rapunzel and Pocahontas, and I see different parts of myself in each character. Rapunzel is a little naive but full of optimism, Esmerelda is defiant and opinionated, and Pocahontas is diplomatic and independant. They all fight for what they want and what they believe in.
Thank You SO Much for making this video! I am taking a class on Disney and right now we are talking about this (it feels like we are always talking about this). I am going to show this video in class so people finally understand a perspective that does not villainize the Princesses with regards to modern feminism! My favorite Princess is Ariel because she recognizes that to be happy she has to chose her own path in life and then she works tirelessly to actualize that goal!
Thank you for this! My favorite actually has to be Snow White. I agree with you. Even though she appears weak, she has certain things about her that make her truly admirable (at least to me). I also love Merida because I can relate, and Mulan because, well, too many reasons.
I love Belle because she didn't just fall in love with the first hot guy she saw, she fell in love with the guy who became a better person because she inspired him to do so.
It's very difficult to make Aurora a not-passive character because, you know, it's SLEEPING Beauty, but I always liked about that movie that you get to know Prince Phillip fairly well and see his struggles as well as Aurora's.
A good point to bring up too in defending Snow, and Cinderella is that Mulan was just like them in the beginning of the movie. Mulan could not fight until she went to the army. How in any point of Snow White's life being held as a slave and basically her self esteem being torn down could she have been taught to defend her self. Being closed off from the world she's innocent at heart. She is still a nice person even when her life is always in danger.
You are so eloquent! For some reason, this video reminded me a bit of a John Green Thoughts from Places video.. so much blow-your-mind eloquence and awesomness :D Absolutely loved this topic and your insight!
That's a very interesting point that I've actually never heard before. Speaking from my experience of being a four year old girl, the idea of being a princess is very appealing and it is easy to market on. But we should remember that practically all Disney films are based off of classic fairy tales (some more loosely based than others), but if you're going to question the glorification of aristocracy in Disney films, you should probably start with those original stories.
Mulan and Merida, hands down! They are both bad arse who teach us to be brave and originality especially in times of fear.
boh, I'd love me some merida merchandise.
Jasmine and Belle are my favorite princesses. Belle for making such a sacrifice for her father, her willingness and ability to look beyond what her eyes see, and her love of books. Jasmine for knowing what she wants, her willingness to fight for it, and "I am not a prize to be won".
On a side point, I think it was Milt Kahl (or Eric Larson) who said animating the Prince in the movie was very painful because they all have to look generic so that every one can root for the good guy. Its easier to animate extreme attitude. so I understand why the princes meld together but there is a reason why.
Tangled and Frozen right now are my favorites because for both Rapunzel and Anna the romance is still there but it isn't the end all purpose of the film. For Frozen of course the focus is the sisters, and for Tangled really the focus is Rapunzel seizing the life she was denied in the tower and finding herself. I like that because the romance is still there which for most of us is true, but there other things shown to be important.
I really like Belle, the fact that she chooses to be kept as a prisoner for her dad to be free, shows a lot of strength to me. She also tries to se beyond what she "should" like in a man and gets to know the beast properly. And she loves books! :)
Thanks Marina! This means a lot coming from you because you are like the Queen of Feminism. Seriously. In my mind you have like a throne and everything.
What I think is pretty nice is how in Frozen, it's shown how love is not as simple as one might like it to be, and we need to be careful about falling for someone before we know them ... or else it's not really "true love" anyway :D Pretty big contrast to older disney films, even though I like Sleeping beauty and all that shit too :/
LET'S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS, TO DEFEAT, THE HUNS!
While she's not in the "official" line up, she still totally counts because she's awesome!
RAPUNZEL. Apart from the fact that Tangled is one of my favourite Disney movies (It and Sleeping Beauty switch places sometimes), I love that Rapunzel is naive but still useful and badass, sometimes even because of that naivety. For instance, that whole scene in the Snuggly Duckling was going to shit before Rapunzel started asking the ruffians if they'd ever had a dream. If she had been more jaded she wouldn't have thought to do that, and it ended up saving the day. Also she's adorable.
Belle was the first character three year old me ever related to and wanted to be . She's kind ,bookish and sees the beauty is only skin deep . She doesn't care about being liked by the people in her village or getting a man at the beginning of the movie .
You summed up all my thoughts in one video. I am greatly appreciative of this.
Jasmine??? She was literally one of THE FIRST very feminist Disney princesses but is constantly left out 🙃
Oh, and my favourite "princesses" are: Jasmine, Belle, Mulan and Esmeralda. Overall I always liked beauty and the beast as well as Mulan best, because one shows the importance of intelligence and kindness and the other one shows the value of family and courage. I feel like the theme is not just represented by the protagonists, but throughout the whole film. Also, you gotta admit, Mulan's granny is the most badass of them all
I agree you shudnt just judge with blind folds on Disney is about having a dream and working towards that with hard work while being true to urself and always follow you heart I love Disney and always b a kid at heart :D
This video was excellent! My favorite changes a lot, but it's probably Rapunzel or Belle. Ooh and I love Jasmine. And Merida. And Tiana. And well, all of them? I most relate to Rapunzel though and my friends always called me Ariel because of my red hair. So those two are pretty special to me.
What great reasons for great princesses!
My favorite is probably Belle. She loves books, and she doesn't care what other people think of her. Her lesson is also a valuable one; to appreciate people for who they are, not what they look like (or your first impression of them!)
My favorite princess is Belle! Mostly because I basically was her as a child; but also because I feel like, as a feminist, she speaks to a really important idea of women being educated and using that knowledge in useful/cool ways. There's also a really important theme of self-sacrifice and internal beauty in that story that I feel like the Disney version draws out nicely without making the whole thing creepy.
This is extremely accurate and I love you for making it.
One thing that's important to remember is that when these movies were made, gender roles were COMPLETELY different . In the time period that some of these were created, it was perfectly normal for a woman's goal to simply find a man and no one would have seen a problem with it. But obviously we have progressed since then (as seen in more recent films) and that's the important part!
Oh that's awesome! And yes!! That's why I love Ariel too :)
Such a pretty pretty princess.
Cinderella is my favourite but only because Cinderella was the first Disney princess movie I watched
Thank you so much for this! I definitely agree with you. I think a lot of what I see of feminism gets it wrong - that female characters have to be strong and independent of men in order to be good women or whatever. However just because some princesses are involved with men or are maybe not as physically strong doesn't mean they aren't complex human beings. There's definitely a lot of misunderstanding of what "strong" female characters are. I think people are way too focused on the word "strong"
YES MEG! Ahhh I really disliked her when I was a kid but I absolutely LOVE her now and wish she got to be on 'princess' level too. She's so badass. She's selfless and has made mistakes because of it but has learned and grown. She's strong and tries to be as independent as she can be but still falls in love with Hercules. Anyway yes, good picks ;)
YASSSSS
I'm taking a class right now called Deconstructing Disney and it's all about this kind of stuff. I know that all of the Disney films have their flaws with their messages about femininity and whatnot (don't get me started on the villains), but I would say that the more recent princesses are much less oppressed, like Belle and Pocahontas who are in the middle of the action, not just saving the Prince, but also making a change in their respective communities.
My favorite princesses are Mulan, Jasmine, and Cinderella. I love Jasmine because she, even though the story wasn't about her, stood up for herself and did as much as she could to get away from Jafar. Cinderella because she worked hard and it paid off, even though it was in the form of a fairy godmother and it's not very practical. I guess it just ties into my belief in karma. And of course, Mulan is just awesome in so many ways.
I appreciated this video because I learned what I wasn't being taught in a Women's Studies class talking about Disney princesses. Thank you :)
Really rather than shunning older princesses people should think of this as Disney adapting to change in how we see romance. The princes have evolved over time from "the prince" who the heroine loves "just because" to full fledged characters. Naveen and Flynn are my favourite Disney princes because before they even fall for their leading lady they form a genuine friendship and it blossoms into love.
Yes thank you. Just. Thank you
You understand!!!
EMILY YOU ARE A GODDESS
Kida for favourite princess!
The princess/prince kiss present in so many Disney movies was absolutely and completely OFF my radar when I was watching these movies as a kid. I was way more interested in the adventure and the fantasy worlds to care about that stuff.
Then again I was a boy, so I can't speak for what a little girl would have valued in the movies.
Rapunzel bacause not only does she follow her dreams and folkow her heart but she's pretty kick ass with all her different ways of using her hair to get out of bad situations. Not to mention to frying pan.
Mulan always have been since I was little
YES. Thank you for making this video. Feminism is about celebrating women as a whole, not just the ones that defy traditional gender roles. Also, Mulan is my girl.
reprisal form tangled I would have to say is a kick ass women i love her even if in some ways she is generic in many ways she is wonderful.
I love princess Tiana too she's my favourite
I love Rapunzel, but this mostly comes down to the fact that i have really long blonde hair and have jokingly been referred to as Rapunzel my entire life but also because I think she shows a young girl who does fall in love but is also legitimately awesome. I also think that it's really easy to create modern female characters that just become more "manly" to be feminist and I love that Rapunzel is fantastic and strong and brave but is also kinda girly.
Has anyone ever told You that You look just like Lindsay from "Freaks and Geeks"? Maybe it's just me, but You remind me of Her so much!
Oh, and great video! I've just recently become much more interested in feminism, and want to read and know more and more on this subject. This video is perfect. Thank You for talking about this.
Such a great video!
Also Belle and Tiana are my favorites because they both don't take any shit.
My faveorite princess is mulan and Aurora 💓💓👸👸👸
She's not technically a princess but Meg from Hercules is one of my favorites. She's a badass.
this is a thing i agree with completely
My favorite was Jasmine because she was the only princess who waved back at me at Disneyland.
However, I'm starting to shift towards Vanellope von Schweetz because who wouldn't want a candy kingdom?! Lol :)
I think Jasmine was always my favourite princess cos she was so sassy and she just wanted freedom. Also pocahontas was indian jasmine was arabian tiana was black and mulan was chinese and they were all very strong and independent. Strange...
NICE! LUV THIS! This is perfect for my AP Lit project about Feminist Disney
Prince falling in love by Cinderella's beautiful personality...without exchanging one word.Right.
I LOVE this video. Thank you so much for making it.