Most people who are familiar with Cinderella have little understanding of the subliminal messages associated and the consequences involved. To many, Cinderella is a harmless story of a young girl who struggles through life, is finally able to achieve her dreams, and lives happily ever after. In reality, the patriarchal gender expectations and rewards associated with Disney’s Cinderella can be damaging to young girls and their self-image. Therefore, in order to render the misogynistic ideologies of these stories invalid, modern pedagogy should be recreated to incorporate potential empowerment for both genders. Most people believe fairy tales to be harmless to a girl’s development, unable to comprehend the reality of the situation: the gender stereotyping involved in these stories can be influential in several ways (Bonds-Raake 232).
Whitney Slusser Mrs. Sherrow ACP W131 December 2, 2010 Summary Final of “Cinderella: Not So Morally Superior” (Panttaja 644-647) In her article, “Cinderella: Not So Morally Superior,” Elisabeth Panttaja (644-647) argues that Cinderella is not the motherless, good hearted, and honest character that she is portrayed to be. Panttaja believes Cinderella’s mother has a main role in the story, and that Cinderella is a lying, deceiving, and serpentine character. In almost every Cinderella story, Cinderella is thought to be completely absent. However, according to Panttaja, her mother plays a key role in Cinderella’s future, and in the story’s moral. Although Cinderella’s mother seems to be dead, it is she who holds the most power within the
Young girls tried with all of their might to be just like Barbie, to be perfect. In 1973 when Marge Piercy wrote this poem, she was conveying a message to her readers that no matter how hard we try, perfection is not something we achieve in our lifetimes, only in death. At the time this poem was written, Barbie had already been out for nearly twenty years. “Millions of children throughout the world, mostly girls, owned and played with one or more Barbie dolls, while some older people collected them (and some still do)” (Sherrow 1). Many of these women and young girls were trying to emulate her look at the time, which considering her measurements of 39-18-33, was virtually impossible.
The Disney brand and stories are a well-established part of our lives. “Disney's empire has not only become a part of American culture, but has become practically inescapable (Ramos).” The stories are always based around a princess desperately needing to find her prince in order to escape whatever circumstances they are in. It is an unrealistic portrayal of how women are supposed to be. In real life, women need to work hard to get anything they want most and if they have unrealistic views, they are set up for failure. Many argue that there is no harm done since little girls
This phenomenon has been the topic of discussions for years now, but nothing has been done about it. Either people do not understand the importance or the addressing of the topic doesn’t catch the audience’s attention. In Cinderella ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the New Girlie Girl Culture, New York Times bestselling author, blogger, and expert on girls development, women, and parenting, Peggy Orenstein knowledgeably and humorously addresses America’s newest princess culture and what it is doing to America’s little angels. A book is easier to read if the reader feels a connection with a character or in some cases the author. In the case of this book the reader can form a connection with the author or at least relate to her, easily.
Probably the most destructive ideas in the history of human thought. Both originated in envy, thrived in insecurity, and ended in disillusion.” This quote ties in all the themes of the Bluest Eyes, love, beauty, and an un-escapable fall into despair while chasing the first two. The image of Shirley Temple and white baby dolls are central to the meaning of the novel. Adults don’t try to undermine the power that Shirley Temple has on the girls of this novel. Instead they show praise towards her and her whiteness by buying white baby dolls, even for black girls.
TLC’s hit show “Toddlers & Tiaras” has captured the drama and exploitation in the world of child beauty pageants. Young girls are paraded around in expensive costumes, some in overly adult costumes complete with padded breasts. “….viewers and pageant skeptics have been expressing horror at an industry
Barbie dolls are just a source of entertainment for kids and meanwhile it cherishes their dreams. In young girls’ imagination Barbie is not just a beautiful doll it is the reflection of their adulthood in future. Barbie has experienced over 150 careers including teacher, veterinarian, surgeon, doctor, and astronaut which only men were allowed to do until around the 1920’s (Lee Stone, 2010). The fact of Barbie having over 150 careers and working independently sets a marvelous environment for younger girls to improve their imagination while playing with their favorite doll. Barbie dolls take young girls one step closer to pursue their dreams and in
These children are way too young to be worrying about what they look like when they look in the mirror. It is appalling for these grown adults, especially their moms, to be adding all the pressure and stress that should not be obtained until high school when their peers will start to judge naturally, it is disgusting and cruel. These young girls are dressed up provocatively and imitate grown woman by winking and blowing kisses to the judges while moving their bodies as if they were fully developed. The pageant world completely destroys their innocence. Girls have been seen dressed up as Dolly Parton wearing padding on their chest and bottom to pull of the full celebrity look.
These often have an adult, sexy over-tone some argue is ‘creepy’ causing a ‘general discomfort’ in the viewing public. (Faulkner, 2011) Participation in such competitions clearly constructs a stereotypical form of femininity; the perception that external beauty and sexualized behaviour is the key to success. In defense mothers have argued these competitions enhance the mother-daughter bond; participation is something they do together. (Hill,