I’ve always had a complex relationship with Snow White. On one hand, as a child, I longed to be like her, to be as hardworking as her, and to have her voice and feminity. As I grew into my tween years, my admiration for her evolved into a judgemental skepticism.
Compared to all the newer Disney princesses such as Rapunzel, Mulan, Moana, and Elsa, Snow White seemed feeble, and quite frankly, dumb. She, along with Disney’s Golden Age princesses like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, unlike modern princesses was not a fighter, but an endurer, utilizing “kindness” and “dreams” as her shield, which seemed rather weak.
However, I was not the only person to think that. Journalist Lallanilla at UC Davis said, “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 us shunning quiet strength is hyper-feminism. Hyper-feminism is like feminism on steroids- amped up and intense. Hyper-feminism, at times, risks overshadowing the quieter yet powerful strengths associated with kindness and femininity.
In its intense search for radical change, there’s 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.
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 feminity or desire to become more masculine, but the empowering of women based on their own personal interests and aspirations, whether that is to marry and live a happily-ever-after or to become a lawyer.
As Meg March in the Little Women 2019 movie adaption 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, the classic “damsel in distress”. Critics argue that her story perpetuates outdated gender stereotypes, portraying her as a damsel in distress awaiting a prince to rescue her.
However, behind that seemingly demure façade lies a woman armed with a different kind of strength—kindness. In a world often obsessed with brute force and flashy heroics, Cinderella teaches us that enduring cruelty with unwavering grace requires a formidable resilience. Her compassion towards even the most malevolent stepsisters showcases a strength often overlooked in the quest for more assertive role models.
As 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 defences, 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 prime example of this. Author of The Hiding Place, Biography explains that Corrie Ten Boom “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. Corrie’s kindness wasn’t just a gesture; it was a way of life that defined her character.
Despite the danger of the Nazi occupation, she opened her home to Jews, providing refuge and hope to those persecuted. Her kindness extended beyond the immediate risks, as she even found to strength to forgive her captors after enduring the hardships of a concentration camp.
Corrie’s ability to radiate warmth, empathy, and forgiveness in the darkest of times showcased the resilience of the human spirit and exemplified the profound impact that simple acts of kindness can have on the world. She’s not alone. Let us not forget the kindness of Princess Diana, Mother Teresa, Bob Ross, Audrey Hepburn, and many others.
So, before we dismiss Cinderella as a pushover, let’s applaud her for wielding 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.
So, while iconic fairy tale heroines may not wield swords or possess superhuman abilities, their enduring stories showcase 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.
As Aubrey Chayson at Medium 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.”
