Throughout the movie ‘The Little Mermaid’, Ariel exemplifies characteristics of a typical Disney Heroine. The first example of this being that Ariel of course is born into being a princess and did not do anything to earn it, all her power and wealth was provided to her by her father, King Triton, who is a man. Throughout the movie Ariel is continually unhappy because she does not have a man in her life, which is also a characteristic of a Disney Heroine. This message of her needing a man is exactly what disney usually portrays in their movie, the message is the idea that women need a man to be happy and that is the main concern of women is to be married. Throughout the movie Ariel is able to manipulate people through her sad looks because people feel bad for her because she is cute. Ariel is possibly the most sexualized of all the disney princesses. She technically wears no clothes but her top, and even her top is extremely small and leaves very little to the imagination. An author on weebly.com makes a valid point when stating “Throughout the film it is hard to remember that Ariel is only sixteen years old. Ariel is depicted with extremely large, curvaceous hips, a microscopic waist, and big red pouty lips. The aquatic vixen exudes sex appeal as she rolls around on the ocean’s floor baring her midriff and only covering her chest with a purple shell bikini.” (Ciaramella, 2014, p.1). It is hard to imagine that disney would make a girl who is merely sixteen years old so sexually appealing, especially when the audience who is viewing this is supposed to be so young. The notes on ‘Disney Dolls’ can also be directly applied to the movie as well because to Ariel and other Disney Princesses, “a good looking boyfriend remains the truest measure of feminine happiness and success.” This sends a clear message to young girls that their number one goal should be to marry a man.
All in all since Ariel is one of the early disney princesses she is not very evolved in the idea of femininity and stereotyping women. She follows most of the key characteristics that Disney tends to follow in their Disney Heroine’s. The gender representation is apparent throughout the entire film, which displays men in powerful positions such as the king and the prince. Meanwhile, the female characters are very sexualized and seem to be more interested in pleasing men, than pleasing themselves. The Little Mermaid in no way empowers or encourages women, and in fact, encourages them to aim low, and dream of marrying well. It tell young girls that the key to true happiness is marrying a good looking, wealthy man. However, “To fall in love; to join in romantic union with the ideal man to achieve a happily ever after, is one of the bad faiths women fall into.” (Wolfe, 2014, p.1). This film was clearly created with a biased and narrow idea of what and who a women is and should be. As a child growing up I did not realize how poorly represented women were in these Disney princess movies, mainly because their was a consistent message throughout all of them. It is my hope that in future Disney movies that women are more empowered, and don’t just worry about meet and being with a man. I believe women should look forward to things such as a career and personal success before worrying about being with a man, that is what Disney movies should be teaching children, to aspire to do great things.
References:
Ciaramella, K. (n.d.). Ariel's Body. The Little Mermaid. Retrieved July 28, 2014, from http://hookedonariel.weebly.com/ariels-body.html
Wolfe, A. (n.d.). A Woman's Ambition: A Reflection on Disney Princesses. Sailing Dreams. Retrieved July 28, 2014, from http://wolfewritingdreams.wordpress.com/2014/01/01/a-womans-ambition-a-reflection-on-disney-princesses/
All in all since Ariel is one of the early disney princesses she is not very evolved in the idea of femininity and stereotyping women. She follows most of the key characteristics that Disney tends to follow in their Disney Heroine’s. The gender representation is apparent throughout the entire film, which displays men in powerful positions such as the king and the prince. Meanwhile, the female characters are very sexualized and seem to be more interested in pleasing men, than pleasing themselves. The Little Mermaid in no way empowers or encourages women, and in fact, encourages them to aim low, and dream of marrying well. It tell young girls that the key to true happiness is marrying a good looking, wealthy man. However, “To fall in love; to join in romantic union with the ideal man to achieve a happily ever after, is one of the bad faiths women fall into.” (Wolfe, 2014, p.1). This film was clearly created with a biased and narrow idea of what and who a women is and should be. As a child growing up I did not realize how poorly represented women were in these Disney princess movies, mainly because their was a consistent message throughout all of them. It is my hope that in future Disney movies that women are more empowered, and don’t just worry about meet and being with a man. I believe women should look forward to things such as a career and personal success before worrying about being with a man, that is what Disney movies should be teaching children, to aspire to do great things.
References:
Ciaramella, K. (n.d.). Ariel's Body. The Little Mermaid. Retrieved July 28, 2014, from http://hookedonariel.weebly.com/ariels-body.html
Wolfe, A. (n.d.). A Woman's Ambition: A Reflection on Disney Princesses. Sailing Dreams. Retrieved July 28, 2014, from http://wolfewritingdreams.wordpress.com/2014/01/01/a-womans-ambition-a-reflection-on-disney-princesses/