DISNEY'S PRINCES

Someday my prince will come!

Over at Linkiest, there is a linky to a site called IMGUR in which they offer a graphic showing what Disney is teaching little girls and boys. What does it take to attract a princess? Here's what Disney says in their movies:

Its a pretty consistent pattern. Be rich, handsome, famous and charming. One of them is even named Prince Charming. There's a lot of talk about what the princesses teach and how they are role models for little girls and so on - princess marketing is big for Disney. But nobody really seems to be paying attention to what the princes are like. What are they teaching boys, and what does that teach little girls about the guys that they should look for?

I don't see loyal, hard working, trustworthy, or masculine in there. In fact they all look pretty boyish and effeminate, to be honest. The really strong, masculine-looking characters usually are the bad guys.

In Mulan the bad guy is a strong warrior named Shan-Yu, a huge, bald figure with massive muscles and incredible skill in combat as well as leading soldiers. He's usually shown with an evil grimace, but clearly his men trust and rely on him and he seems responsible. Shan Yu looks somewhat Mongol, while Mulan looks more Chinese.

Beauty and the Beast features Gaston, the oafish, but handsome and muscular villain. All the girls love him except Belle naturally who wants a sensitive hero with a gentle heart and fewer muscles. Gaston naturally turns wicked because he has to be established as not being a good mate.

Now, granted, the girls all look pretty much the same and quite young as well - the kind of young that gets guys thrown in jail for courting. So that's the style, but the contrast with older, more manly men is pretty stark. The lesson seems to be this:

Girls, look for a boy who is rich and handsome and famous, one that's not very threatening and certainly not masculine. You want a guy who has lots of cash but no dirt under his fingernails. Even if he starts that way (Beast) he should with your love turn into a slightly feminized little boy before you let him have you.

Guys who are not rich or famous? Not handsome in a boyish way? The are no good, even dangerous. Especially soldiers or men who are very masculine, avoid them. They are boring and never read a book and you can't turn them into whatever you want.

At least, that's what I see.

Oh and the Beast was named Adam, although its never given in the film.