I’ve always had a complex relationship with Snow White. On one hand, I wanted to be like her (I mean she seriously needs to tell me her lipstick shade). I longed for her glossy black hair, smooth unbroken skin, and ability to talk to animals. However, as I grew into my tween years, I found my admiration for her evolving into a judgemental skepticism.
Compared to modern Disney princesses such as Rapunzel, Mulan, Moana, and Elsa, Snow White seemed feeble, and quite frankly, stupid. She did not have magical powers, she was not physically strong, and I did not see her try to kill the Evil Queen herself. She, along with Disney’s Golden Age princesses was not like today’s princesses in the sense that she was not a fighter, but an endurer, utilizing kindness and dreams as her shield. My initial thought was: if you can’t eat dreams for breakfast, you certainly can’t live through dreams.
I was not the only person to have this skepticism. Journalist Lallanilla at UC Davis noted, “Ever since Snow White first appeared on screens in 1937, Disney princesses have endured an onslaught of criticism for being too weak. As our society evolves with hyper-feminism, it seems like we’ve forgotten the quiet strength that lies in kindness and femininity”. One of the main causes of society shunning quiet strength and the princesses that embody such character is hyper-feminism.
Hyper-feminism is like feminism on steroids- amped up, intense, and one shot away from terrifying. It is essentially the idea that women must move as far from traditional values as possible, and as women, it is their job to represent strength and change for future generations. Hyper-feminism, at times, risks overshadowing the quieter yet powerful strengths associated with kindness and femininity. In society’s search for radical change, there is a tendency to dismiss or downplay attributes traditionally linked to women, such as empathy, nurturing, and collaboration in order to appear more masculine and strong. The extreme emphasis on breaking stereotypes sometimes leads to the unintended consequence of devaluing qualities perceived as more traditionally feminine. Female characters who are perceived as cool by many are those who are the most “not like the other girls”.
Besides this extreme hyper-feminism, another cause of this situation is the false definition of feminism. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines feminism as the “belief in and advocacy of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes expressed especially through organized activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests.” The most important and most often forgotten aspect of this definition is “on behalf of women’s rights and interests”. Feminism is not the rejection of femininity or the desire to become more masculine, but the empowering of women based on their personal interests and aspirations, whether that is to marry and live happily ever after or to become a lawyer. It is as Meg March in the Little Women 2019 movie adaptation said, “Just because my dreams are different than yours doesn’t mean they’re unimportant”. Feminism’s core belief is supporting women and their own dreams.
Among the princesses under scrutiny is Cinderella. Critics argue that her story perpetuates outdated gender stereotypes, portraying her as a damsel in distress awaiting a prince to rescue her. However, this is not the case. In a world obsessed with brute strength and flashy heroics, Cinderella teaches us that enduring cruelty with unwavering grace requires formidable resilience. Her compassion towards even her wicked stepsisters conveys a strength often overlooked in the quest for more assertive role models.
Stylist explains, “Kindness is not typically associated with strength but, in actual fact, sometimes it’s the strongest people who are able to be the kindest; they don’t feel the need to use defenses, or put up barriers to protect themselves, and can therefore offer genuine kindness because they feel safe and secure with who they are.” It is essential to remember that kindness is what fuels much of the good in the world: forgiveness, humanity, love, self-sacrifice. Corrie Ten Boom is a quintessential example of this.
Biography explains that Corrie Ten Boom, the author of The Hiding Place, “helped Jews escape the Holocaust during World War II, saving nearly 800 lives.” In the horrors of World War II, she emerged with kindness and love. Her kindness extended beyond the immediate risks, as she even found the strength to forgive her captors after enduring the hardships of a concentration camp. Ten Boom’s ability to radiate warmth, empathy, and forgiveness in the darkest of times highlights the resilience of the human spirit and exemplifies the incredible impact that simple acts of kindness can have on the world. She is not alone. Let us not forget the kindness of Princess Diana, Mother Teresa, Bob Ross, Audrey Hepburn, and many others who have embraced the world with their warmth.
Before we dismiss Cinderella as a pushover, let us applaud her for using the power of kindness and proving that true strength doesn’t always need a sword or armor; sometimes, a glass slipper and a heart full of compassion are enough. While iconic fairy tale heroines may not wield swords or possess superhuman abilities, their stories show the power of inner strength, compassion, and the ability to overcome challenges.
Snow White’s kindness prevails over the wicked queen, Sleeping Beauty’s resilience triumphs over a curse, and Cinderella’s enduring spirit triumphs over mistreatment. These characters redefine heroism by highlighting the strength found in empathy, endurance, and the ability to transform challenges into opportunities for growth. Their stories remind us that strength comes in various forms, including the uniquely powerful qualities associated with femininity. Aubrey Chayson at Medium wisely said, “Femininity is an essential quality for all humans to possess. It is the strength in gentility, bravery in what is soft, courage harmonious with emotionality, authority amid entropy, the knowing calm that is unyielding.”
