I absolutely loved reading this piece! ( I think Dr. Bogad needs to start a class here at RIC about the stereotypes of cartoons and children movies so we can all take it ;) hint hint ) I have always had conversations with friends about how "Disney Princesses" have ruined children today, and that not everyone is going to get that perfect Prince Charming. When we were kids, we never realized how each fairy tale could almost be viewed as the same heroes, enemies, and that unrealistic happy ending. But it goes beyond the childhood fairy tales, and follows us into adulthood. Everywhere we look we see the (nowadays photoshopped) super skinny, flawless skin, and perfect face staring right back at us from the billboards, magazines, television, and everything else imaginable!
I must admit though, that Disney has redeemed themselves just a little bit! A couple new movies, and princesses, have arrived that don't fit the "perfect white girl" stereotype. Although, no matter what color her skin is, she's still prettier than I'll ever be; and she still got her happy ending. It sad when you realize that society has embedded a vision of beautiful in our heads, even from such a young age. It makes us think that we'll never get to that point. Girls starve themselves and spend money on the latest and greatest makeup and clothing just try to fit into this image, when in reality, no one looks like that! Even the girls on the magazines. Society has become so crazy that they alter model's bodies, color, skin and makeup to make that perfect image unreachable everyone, including them, even when they're the image being portrayed.
I like to pretend that one day we won't focus all of our attention to the way we look, and maybe spend some much needed attention on our personalities and attitudes....but I can't see that happening anytime soon.
Your prettier than Disney's princesses. The advertising industry is constantly messing with all of us. Their job is to convince people to feel empty, like something's missing. They create these feelings of wanting so we are compelled to buy junk we don't want or need.
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