Cinderella Ate My Daughter

Quotes

Quote #1: "You can gussy up Pocahontas's eagle feathers only so much. As for Mulan, when she does show up, it's in a kimono-like hanfu, the one that makes her miserable in the movie, rather than her warrior's gear" (Orenstein 14).

This quote is explaining how the more "ethnic" Disney characters don't show up as much as the main Princesses when it comes to little girl's outfits. Even in Mulan's case, the outfit with her attire is a feminine one that she didn't even like in the movie. I was shocked by this because I never even thought of them before. I guess because they are the "manlier" of the Disney characters, the creators just over-look them. It's kind of messed when you think about it because its like society is telling young girls who they are allowed to like and how they're suppose to dress.


Quote #2: "There is, however, ample evidence that the more mainstream media girls consume, the more importance they place on being pretty and sexy" (Orenstein 16).

This I did not find surprising at all. Of course the more girls are exposed to pop culture and mainstream media, the more they are going to want to look good. The problem is that the girls shown in mainstream media are suppose to look "perfect" but today's technology, all those "perfect girls" that are seen in ads, tv, and movies, don't even look like that because of the help from computers. That's why I get so upset when young girls wished they looked like models or actresses. The models and actresses don't even look like that themselves.


Quote #3: "Meanwhile, according to a 2006 survey of more than two-thousand school-aged children, girls repeatedly described a paralyzing pressure to be 'perfect': not only to get straight A's and be the student body president, editor of the newspaper, and even captain of the swim team but also to be 'kind and caring'" (Orenstein 17).

I was also not shocked when I read about these statistics. I to was the kind of girl who was worried if I was nice enough or caring enough to other people. Sometimes I would feel more self-conscious about that than I would about my looks. I think there's pressure out there for girls to be nicer than guys because it's the "feminine" thing to do. It all goes back to SCWAAMP. If a guy is really nice and friendly it makes him seem weak because society wants them to be tough, however if a girl is nice it seems normal.


Comments: I was always the kind of person who thought that Disney movies were great and always taught us life lessons. However, the more and more we discuss the real meanings behind them, the more I don't want my own kids to watch them.