Lieberman’s point is that fairy tales make beauty the basis for which reward is given, not intelligence, work ethic, or anything else a radical feminist would see as an asset. Lieberman also stresses that in popular fairy tales, beauty is associated with being kind and well-tempered whereas ugliness is associated with being ill-tempered and often jealous. This can be easily shown in one of the most popular fairy tales of all—Cinderella. In this, Lieberman argues, Cinderella is oppressed by her cruel, ugly stepsisters and stepmother who force the kind, beautiful girl to do all the chores in the house. Cinderella ends up getting the prize (marriage to the prince) based on looks alone.
1. The Frog King, and Beauty and the Beast, among others, all relate to the idea of one royal marrying an initially less fortunate (in terms of appearance or economic/social stature) person. These folk tales are best described for dealing with life’s vital issues and that is where the drama can begin. Each story delves into rites of passage in some manner, for instance young women leaving their parents to marry and friendship they find with an unlikely candidates. Each story shows children grow up and learn to survive on their own to become adults and live happily ever after having survived very difficult situations, each lady making a deal for their time, love, etc.
Throughout time, village elders, parents, or an authority figure have told stories to impart a kernel of wisdom, or to teach a moral code of conduct. To hold the audience's attention, magical characters were invented deeds or quests inserted, villains were defeated, and the boy got the girl. Or in the case of Cinderella, the girl through magical enhancements of grace, patience, and beauty, won the heart of boy. A simple plot written for a simple audience. But according to the article, "Cinderella: Not So Morally Superior" by Elisabeth Panttaja, the author tells us that the sweet-tempered, motherless young woman that we read about as children was an imposter.
Growing up, I thought my mother looked just like Cinderella and had the same pretty voice. I was excited to watch this movie again, with my daughter, because I thought it would bring me back to my childhood. I must admit that while watching it for absolutely different reasons, and taking notes, it was hard to enjoy it as much. Without immediately referring to the sheer passivity of the heroine, Cinderella, I’ve found that this story not only gender-stereotypes, but sets societal norms right out there on the table for you, and agrees and supports every one of them. Cinderella is not the role model I want for my daughter.
Her step-sisters have great desire to attain Prince Charming's heart. When Cinderella first sees the handsome Prince there is an instant connection, crushing her step-sister’s dreams and ensuring her success. Cinderella defies her step-family and achieves victory by marrying the prince, ultimately getting her revenge. Kravtchenko, 2 Kravtchenko, 2 Fate is on the side of the proletariat, thus promoting interest of the working class. Cinderella is circumscribed by her family and forced to clean, fortunately the
In the movie a maid named Marisa gets her happy ending. Marisa is the Cinderella in this movie and has many of the characteristics Yolen says Cinderella should have and once had. For instance Marisa is smart and quick-witted in the movie like Yolen said the European Cinderella was. An example of this is at the beginning when she seems to handle all of her duties with ease and is also able to aid her friend, the butler, with his cut. Marisa on the other hand isn’t as independent as the European Cinderella but more like the American one in that sense.
The dentist asked her daughter if she wanted to sit in the “special princess throne.”She then goes on about other times the princess label has been put on her daughter and about her frustrations with these situations. Then, her daughter asks what’s wrong with princesses? She makes references to real life princesses, and also she talked about the princess trend that has swept across the nation. She states her strong feminist beliefs and questions “what playing Little Mermaid is teaching her [daughter] (Orenstein 671).” She then briefly acknowledges the counterargument and moves on to discussing the start and instant success of Disney’s princess products. She quotes the founder of the princess products, Andy Mooney, when he says that boys pass through phases and so will girls with the princess phase.
Further on in the book, Peggy discusses how the emphasis on girl’s beauty from the culture that we live in is greatly inspired by Disney princesses promoting the idea that girls should be “the fairest of them all”. She says, “I have already grumbled about Disney’s Ariel, who gives up her voice to get a guy. What kind of message is that? I ask you.” (107) Ariel is willing to give up her voice to get the guy she likes, and so she has to rely on her appearance and look as pretty as possible to attract him. Disney is
In the 20th century, women in most nations won the right to vote, this in return increased their educational and job opportunities. Which is a good thing compared to tests that were done in the 1960s that showed that women’s scholastic achievement were higher in early grades than in high school because the teachers and families of girls did not expect them to peruse anything but being a wife and mother (wic.org). I would say that that we have come a long way from the early 20th century. Women in positions of power or women who want to work their way to a position of power still tend to have a glass ceiling over them. This is because history tells us that men hold these types of positions women are gaining and proving that they can do just as well as a man in a position of power.
The fact that not all thanes could be as courageous and have so many heroic achievements for their countries and rulers is why Beowulf seems so ideal and extraordinary. Beowulf's many achievements told throughout the story gives him the appearance of the most faithful of thanes, who has climbed the social ladder not because he has meant to do so, but because he wishes to protect his country and others and give all the credit to its rulers. This sort of behavior gives him a kind and generous nature that can be traced to a kind of chivalry. Chivalry can also be considered a very important role in the creation of a thane's reputation and popularity. Through Beowulf's chivalry, generosity, friendship, and popularity, all of his kingdom and of others knew him for his heroism and loyalty.