Ariel, Belle and Jasmine

The second group of Disney princess movies were: The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty and the Beast (1991), and Aladdin (1992). These princesses (Ariel, Belle and Jasmine) were the beginning of the challenging of traditional gender roles. This cluster of movies starts to incorporate the changing times and the different issues present for women after the 30 year gap between Sleeping Beauty and The Little Mermaid. Ariel was the first Disney princess to show a genuine interest in exploring outside her immediate environment. This curiosity was a new concept for Disney and for film viewers. It allowed young girls to imagine all the possibilities that the world has to offer. But, it also reinforced the feminine traits of fearfulness and affection, showing that women will always fall prey to typical feminine behaviors. Belle was the first princess that showed any interest in any intellectual activity; she was the town librarian and read books quite frequently. Though, she was separated from her community because of this interest, making her an independent and brave character. These traits are overshadowed by her nurturing side when it comes to the Beast-triumphing as an overwhelmingly feminine behavior. This overshadowing causes conflict in the eyes of the viewer, confusing whether it is more important to be intellectually stimulated and separate from society or to be sensitive and nurturing of to those around you. Jasmine is an interesting princess in the Disney movies. She is not the main character in the movie and is actually secondary to Aladdin. The biggest issue that I have with Jasmine is the overly sexual nature of her character. She uses her body and her good looks to seduce people into doing as she tells them. This is not an appropriate message for children at all. Most of the princesses show increased obsession with their looks but none of them use their looks to get things or to do things. Even though her exploitation of her looks was to free Aladdin, it should not be showcased in a children’s movie—it’s just inappropriate.