I was watching youtube videos of little girls meeting princesses. This Asian little girl was excited to meet Mulan. She rans up to her and the first thing that she asks her is “Do you speak Chinese?”. My guess is that the little girl wanted to speak with Mulan in Chinese but Mulan doesn’t. They do chat up for quite awhile. Then the girl leaves and the first thing she says to her parents is “SHE WAS SOOO PRETTY!”

idk I always love to see girls of color meeting other meeting other princesses of color. While I always LOVE to see girls meeting Disney princesses, there’s always this extra specialness in meeting a princess who looks like you. I can tell you just by watching the youtube video and the context of the scene how much representation matters.

I mean I would of LITERALLY DIED if I had grown up with a latina Disney Princess and she would of spoken in Spanish to me. I would of literally just died with just one word in Spanish!

I think the same can be said of Tiana’s vernacular. It’s always nice to have someone that looks like you and speaks like you. Especially if said character is identified as beautiful and important. 

Since I can literally write about how ALL the Disney Princess (yes including Snow White and Cinderella) can be considered positive or more particularly feminist role models for girls. I will embark on a twelve month odyssey to do a princess meta every month! I will speak in behalf and in defense of the princess. While I do definitely agree there are numerous problems with the princesses, I do not think they are not as harmful as some some people make them to be. Instead of criticizing the princesses for what they don’t/do do we should really try to focus our concern in why are establishing the Disney Princesses as the sole female role models for our girls. That’s ALARMING right there.

I also like to add, that the girls of color are in desperate need for Princesses of Color. The importance of self-identifying yourself as beautiful and confident is essential to WoC.

So basically yeah every month a new Disney Princess to rant/talk about! I also encourage everyone to participate in these discussions. I do not want to exclude anyone. If you identify with the Disney Princesses, your voice matters in this discussion!

I want to add quickly I am not in anyway an academic writer or more specifically a feminist writer. If I speak about feminism is basically through books and essays I have read. And another super quick note, I will NOT be talking about the cultural aspects that surround Mulan, Jasmine, Pocahontas or Tiana. It’s really not my place to talk about Chinese culture or talk about Middle Eastern women’s sexuality. I am not going to be going into any that. However I will link any articles I read or was inspired by and that mayhaps cover that.

I will try to be as open as possible in my discussions of the princesses and the interpretations of them. REMEMBER THIS IS SOLELY MY VIEW, EVERYONE MAY OFFER DIFFERENT READINGS TO THEM.

So here’s a quick question should I start in order or random order?? Any suggestions or thoughts leave them in my askbox!

disneyforprincesses:

Okay so I’m counting that you guys read the previous post. So the news is I’m just really excited about it! Not only is fanfic writing a good way to express our love for fandoms (Disney, for example) but lets us explore the same ol’ characters in different and exciting ways. Now femslash is you guys are not very fanfic world savvy involves woman/woman fanfics. It can be porn/nsfw stuff or it can just be girls hanging out/ doing activities together.

As you can guess the representation of femslash is very low because apparently men are more “interesting” to write than women (this is pretty erroneous fact but yeah).

I would like to encourage all my writing followers (and the talented artists as well) to participate in #femslash february. Starting February 1st my submission page will be open to femslash Disney pieces (art and writing alike). This can be but is not limited the Disney Princesses, Disney heroines, Disney fairies and even humanbent! Disney animals. You can combine pairings however you like maybe two princesses, two heroines (Jane/Wendy for exm), two Disney girls (Tinkerbell/Merida). The sky is the limit!

I would like to give you a friendly reminder to include women of color in your works. Esmeralda, Pocahontas, Mulan, Jasmine, Tiana, Tiger Lily, Nani, Audrey, Kida could all benefit from some much needed exposure. Heck lets even go with live action Disney films and include women of color from there (PoTC’s Tia Dalma).

Some pairings that I personally find very interesting (yes, they’re yours for the taking if you wish to write about them are):

Pocahontas/Ariel or Pocahontas/Nakoma. The first is basically an idea that has been brewing in my head after PetiteTiara’s cute photoset. Adventures ladies/ companions would be too much fun. The second one is so self-explanatory.

Jasmine/Mulan. Imagine Jasmine trying to seduce Mulan? Mulan’s awkwardness would be too cute! Also Carpet ride fic where Mulan’s scared of heights. Y/Y? Or you could got Once Upon A Time style and do Mulan/Aurora.

Tiana/Charlotte. I mean EVERYONE talks about the relationship between the two. But does it always have to be friendship? Can they be each other’s princesses instead??

These are just a FEW recommendations, you might already have your own. I would appreciate, as well, some reblogging to spread the word and let all Disney fans participate.

So mark your calendars, get your pencils ready and lets start filling out the internet with kickass women!

keepfeminismindisney:

Specifically Ariel. I also wanted to be a vet and a jockey. I wanted to be a police sketch artist. I wanted to be an artist. For awhile I wanted to be Felicity, the American Girl Doll. I wanted to be a horse trainer as well. While I was getting A’s in chemistry, I thought about being a chemist. Then I took AP chem and was completely lost. I also wanted to be a detective and a mounted cop (I got to work with horses). I also wanted to train the NYPDs dogs. I also considered working for the FBI and NCIS. I was convinced I was going to be the first female director of NCIS and then I realized Navy politics would drive me up the wall. I am now getting my masters in history and considering a PhD in either American Studies or Women’s Studies. I either want to go into activism surrounding media or work in Disney’s archives (I’ll settle for working in one of their museums).

What was the point of that? I grew up in the “princess culture.” This started in the 1990s with The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin all coming out within 3 years of each other. When I was younger the original six princesses were everywhere. Sure, everything wasn’t as sparkly or pink as it is now, but you could find the same amount of princess crap wherever you went. I acted out The Little Mermaid pretty much everyday. If I wasn’t acting out TLM, I was acting out one of the other princess movies. While I was loving the princesses, seriously my room was pink and Beauty & the Beast themed (my bathroom was Little Mermaid themed. I was a special kid). If there was a princess on it, I probably owned it. My favorite teacher in second grade found Little Mermaid stickers at some store and gave them to me. I was in second grade in 1997 and I still remember that. The best part of going to Disney World was meeting the Princesses and getting to go on the Haunted Mansion ride. My dad waited in line for me to meet Ariel for over an hour while I played in the water part of Ariels Grotto in Magic Kingdom (this was back when I was probably 6 or 7). While I loved the princesses and ran around my house in my Little Mermaid costume, I also wanted to be other things and loved other things than just the princesses. I wanted to be a vet until I was about 10 and realized I would have to put animals down. I couldn’t do it. I really wanted to work with animals as a kid. I loved animals. Still do. Loving the princesses didn’t make me any less of a person nor did it mean I only liked princesses.

I am sick of these critiques saying girls who like princesses only like princesses. They only care about falling in love and meeting prince charming. I seriously wonder if the people critiquing princesses have ever met a girl who loves princesses or talked to their daughter. I guarantee you, girls like the princesses for more than just their pretty dresses and their “happily ever after.” My best friend loved Belle growing up because she had a horse and was a book warm like her. I loved Ariel because I could relate to her longing to be somewhere else and experience knew things. Some of my friends love Jasmine because she is head strong and independent. My best friend loves Mulan because she was badass and saved her country. I don’t buy this bullshit argument that girls only like princesses because they are pretty. There are more to the princess stories than just prince charming and girls pick up on that. I also guarantee, most girls really don’t care about the prince. The princes are not marketed with the princesses most of the time and girls like the princesses because they can relate to them. Sure, a lot of them also like the pretty dresses but they like these princesses for more than that.

Princesses are one of the few things in society that are specifically for girls. There are no “boys versions” of princesses. Girls do not have a crappier pink version of a “boy princess” because the boys princess is for “boys only.” Unlike legos, chemistry sets, tools, etc. The princesses are one of the few things in society girls can claim as their own. However, the “princess culture” and princess toys are degraded in society. They are seen as bad because they are for girls only. I am not talking about legitimate critiques of the princess culture, but the crap out there that is specifically saying princesses are bad because they are feminine/for girls only. If boys also were into princesses, I guarantee you that the media would not be claiming princesses are bad and hurting girls. Princesses themselves are said to be bad because they are feminine. Being feminine is seen as degrading in society. Girls liking things that are ultra feminine in society is seen as bad. Girls are supposed to “act more like boys” because being masculine/male in society is desirable. Boys are not supposed to like princesses because they are associated with girls. Girls and princesses are seen as only weak and need to be saved. The media doesn’t give a damn about the positive aspects of princess culture (though to be fair, neither do most feminist). It only cares about the negative and harp on that to look like girls need to be saved from this princess culture/find an alternative thing to love.

Feminist need to continue to critique Disney princesses, since they are the main force behind the princess culture, and princesses in general. There needs to be more diverse princesses and not just the same old cookie cutter versions of princesses (blonde hair, big eyes, pale skin). However, we also have to start looking at why princesses are now starting to be seen as bad in the media. We have to start asking why girls toys are the only ones being critiqued. We have to really start asking ourselves what does it say to girls that their toys and likes are the only things viewed as a problem in the media. We also need to stop pretending princesses are all good or all bad. We have to start having real conversations about these princesses.

If you read this and it makes sense, I’d be shocked. I am writing this while half asleep and just rambling. I am pretty much writing down whatever pops into my head….

the highlighted part so much

i love disney princesses, they are in no ways perfect but yes one the few areas girls get to claim freely.

I also by no means want to exclude boys who identify princesses or trans women growing up. disney princess will always be places where we find refuge.

re: the “no one can be a perfect feminist post.”

You “slip up” when you’re trying to stay away from sugar and you eat a handful of M&Ms. What exactly does “slip up” on feminism means, and why are we implying that there is a right and wrong way to be one?

What I was trying to say is that not every single choice we make will be a feminist one. (For those who are feminist savvy will know the whole argument about ‘choice feminism’ going on). Sometimes we engage in things that can be misogynistic or harm other women.

And because we live in an patriarchal society, not even the choices we feel in control of can be completely a ‘feminist’ choice. There’s alot of layers to it.

Same goes with Disney Princesses, they are cartoons written/created by men and because of that structure, the context of their choices are already very controlled. That doesn’t mean the Princesses can’t do anything feminist, they can. It’s just that’s its much more complicated than that.

“All Europeans are white”

“The colonists tried to be nice to the Native Americans”

“Sky lanterns were invented by white people”

“Stockholm syndrome= true love”

“Black people ONLY exist in the rural South”

“If you’re a vain female, then you’re evil”

“Non-consensual kisses are very romantic”

“You ONLY need 4 princesses of color”

My favorite princesses are Aurora and Tiana!

-Aurora because the dresses, the fairies, the dresses, the animation/art is stunning, the hair, omg she has violet eyes, the dresses, the colors, I’ll stop now

-Tiana because I am Tiana and Tiana is me. Of importance: PRINCE PHILLIP I HATE TO BREAK IT TO YOU BUT NAVEEN IS THE BEST DISNEY PRINCE OF ALL TIMES! Also I love 20s fashion too much and I wanted EVERYTHING Tiana wore. And I’m still serious about that last part. On a serious and personal note, I am Hispanic and for me Tiana was huge change, I don’t know if you get what I mean but Tiana just really hit home for me. She was someone I identified with so much in various aspects.

Who’s your favorite disney prinicess(es) and why?

thesebootsaremadeforshittalkin:

disneyforprincesses:

Look around your neighborhood, look around your classroom, look at your friends. We are all culturally diverse. We are not all white! White should not be the norm. When we think about princesses we should not think about a white european princess automatically. There…

i was sitting around with some white friends once and they started talking about Disney making princesses everybody could identify with. problem was- they acted like that was the funniest concept in the world. “they should make a gay princess. hahahaha. and a transgender one. *all the white laughter* and a bald one for girls with cancer. teehee. and a fat princess. lulzies. and a deaf princess. hardy har har.” that’s white privilege right there. you grow up seeing so many people who like you that you come to accept that as the norm. you end up thinking that there should only be people like you depicted in the media. you think of seeing other identities on screen as a joke. and that’s just really fucking irritating.

wow, that’s just gross human beings. I couldn’t agree with you more.

Bolded for importance.