It's not easy to come by these days!
We wouldn't be wrong if we claim that every book, every movie, or every TV series serves to abolish or to strengthen certain ideologies. Everything is political; even the animated movies for children!
Now we're setting out on a journey starting with the first adaptation of old fairy tales to the latest productions, and we'll see how 'ideal' female characters have changed.
Before going into the details of the Snow White character, we should ask only one question of ourselves: Do you remember the voice of Snow White? Or anything she actually said? No, because the main character Snow White in the Disney animation didn't have much to say, which had frequently been shown on TV until the 80s!
Yet, the voice is important. The voice is the thought of our mind.
She was the meaning of 'passive.' She was fearsome, she was the victim and she was even acknowledged in the dwarfs' home since she was beautiful and was doing the housework. She was tricked by a woman and saved by a man without her consent. But, she was content with her life, because marrying a prince was every girl's dream.
She made her choices freely only once in the story. That choice was to go to the ball to meet the prince. It was not much to brag about, but it was progress when you think historically. She was more confident than Snow White, at least she was aware of her desires, and was trying to pursue her dreams.
She fell in love, not with the title of the man, but with his appearance. She revolted and runs from home, biting off more than she could chew... She was more successful compared to the previous princesses, wasn't she?
But, at the same time, she gave up her home, her family, and even her voice to marry a man. In order to marry the man she loved, she made an agreement with a witch and she dared to lose her voice. The movie had the message that 'marriage and love were the most important things in the world for a woman.' Oh! Ariel, you were so dumb!
She was unrivaled and she was the first. She created great excitement. We were yearning for such a female character, we even didn't worry about her being the sidekick in He-Man. Ahh! Those were the good old days!
However, she was going after a man, of course. A man who lied, who hid the truth... But, at least they were having too much fun!
Princess Jasmin was the first character who was not white. She chose the man she'd marry. Disney was livening up gently. See? These were just small excitements!
For Pocahontas, mother nature, her tribe and her homeland were what was important. She was a clever and independent princess who had a deeper understanding than white men.
She was not married. Look, this is a revolution! For the first time, a princess didn't feel that it was necessary for her to marry for her life to be 'complete.'
She blew our minds! Even if we didn't have the consciousness to cry 'Women are strong,' we played Xena by jumping on the sofas!
Princess for a princess, warrior for a warrior! They were just wonderful female characters. They were saviors of the world without help from men. They inspired many little girls. We learned from them the power of solidarity, the importance of sisterhood, and that our desires were not to be blamed.
We still miss you!
But this is Disney anyway, she fought a war but... disguised as a man! Because, a woman being a warrior was unreal for the society she was living in, and for Disney's audience. In the end, Mulan saved China and Disney created a half-strong female character.
The age group it addressed was wider. Although it was aimed at little children, it was watched by people of all ages. The common trait of these different girls was their super powers.
The strength of Katara and Toph, Azula's passion for power, the warrior women of the Kingdom of Earth... It was a legendary series and left us these wonderful female characters.
Children who watched these are lucky!
Better late than never!
Rapunzel was a princess who didn't want to marry. She didn't even think about it. Her only desire was to be free and experience adventures. She was strong enough to defend herself and brave enough to go to places she didn't know. Her relationship with the man she loved was based on exact equity!
At the end of the movie, she became the queen and governed her country by herself, forever. Yay for Rapunzel!
This princess was on a mission against marriage, let alone not wanting to marry.
At the same time, she was Disney's first princess who was not described as being in perfect beauty. Her plump cheeks, messy hair and plain clothes could be acknowledged as a great step for Disney. Merida was frankly saying. 'I don't want to marry!' Indeed, she did not marry.
The cure was found with the sister, by a woman who is afraid of the throne and her own powers. And for the first time audiences heard the following sentence in a Disney movie: 'You can't marry a man you just met.'
This movie which paved the way for the strong, independent, and brave women of the future, became the favorite of many girls in no time.
We are now sure that future generations of girls will be stronger, freer, and more powerful than ours were growing up. There will be no obstacles, walls, or chains pushed by the media in the minds of our children!
Women are strong!