Surely weâre better off now than we were a few decades ago. As in, certainly big corporations like Disney have recognised the need for young girls and women to have positive role models to look up to in their films.
The times have changed, and so have their leading ladies, right? Huh. Maybe, maybe not.Â
The newer âprincessesâ are stronger, sassier and offer zestier personalities. This is compared to their earlier sisters; the meek and the mild, the softly, softly female who had bad things happen to her and then had herself rescued by a dude.
Nope. Just nope. Thatâs definitely not a thing anymore. Even slightly older heroines like Belle and Ariel show more independence.
But itâs more than just throwing a punch, or a frying pan. It has to be more than the action because itâs the words that will be quoted on posters and merch, and then imprinted on the back of our eyelids as we watch our all-time favourite Disney films over and over.
These photos from the set of âHarry Potterâ have completely changed how we feelâŠ
You will 100% wish you went to this school when you find out how students are punished
Researchers have revealed that these newer and more more âidolisedâ princesses have a decreasing amount of speech in their films. Basically, itâs all downhill after âThe Little Mermaidâ.
Thatâs right, Snow White and Aurora, characters who could be described as woeful or even pathetic in comparison to the likes of Elsa and Pocahontas, say MORE in their films. So whoâs getting all the lines? Duh. The men. Of course.
This research is still being carried out, but they have released the following shocking stats:
âThe Beauty and the Beastâ â Men speak 71% of the time.
âPocahontasâ â Men speak 76% of the time.
âMulanâ â Men take up a whopping 77% of the dialogue.Â
Itâs, in a word, bollocks.
There is some light in all this derogatory darkness. For instance, fan favourites âBraveâ and âTangledâ see Merida and Rapunzel owning it. AND THATâS NOT ALL! As the trend for bigger casts of characters became a thing, gender equality has also suffered.
There are twice as many speaking roles for men in âFrozenâ than for women, and âThe Princess and the Frogâ comes off even worse (but that opens up a whole new conversation about whether you can actually count talking animals).
So even though our current Disney kwanes look like theyâre slaying, theyâre certainly not doing it with their words. Theyâre physically stronger, more independent and have shaken off the need for a handsome prince to save them from mortal perilâŠ
But, as we seem to be experiencing lately, nothing is without consequence or sacrifice. And for our animated faves? Theyâve had their voices stripped.
Are you as shocked as we are by these findings? Who is your favourite Disney heroine, and why? Tell us in the comments below.
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