I seriously don't understand people's "logic" these days. It makes no sense. People will find any reason to bitch about characters in the media, calling them good or bad examples, and I think they go way too far. I'm going to use Disney Princesses as examples.
1. "There are too many blond princesses! That's racist!"
First of all, most of the Disney princesses are not naturally blond!! Cinderella and Anna had strawberry blond hair that was more orange than blond. Rapunzel and Elsa had blond hair because of their powers. Belle, Pocahontas, Jasmine, Megara, Mulan, and Tiana were all brunettes, and Ariel and Merida were redheads. Aurora was the only natural blonde, and maybe Elsa was a natural blonde. We don't know.
Secondly, having blond hair (and blue eyes) does not make someone racist! I'll admit, most people with blond hair and blue eyes are white; but not all white people have blond hair and blue eyes. I don't think many people find Belle or Ariel racist, but they're still white! They just don't see them as racist because they're not blond. Isn't that a little ridiculous? I'm not saying people SHOULD find them racist, and it's good they don't, but I think it's stupid that they find all the blond princesses racist.
Thirdly, it makes sense that most of the princesses would be white. Maybe it wasn't stated in the original fairytales that the princesses were all white, but I think it's safe to assume that. Also, the ones people really complain about--Elsa and Merida--pretty much HAD to be white because of where they lived. Think about it. They lived in Norway and Scotland, in the olden days. How many non-white people would there be there? Very few or none.
Fourthly, maybe there aren't that many ethnic princesses, but they represent a wide variety of races and cultures. There's a Native American princess, an Arabic princess, a Chinese princess, an African American princess, and even a Scottish princess. A lot of peoples are being represented. I have the feeling that if there were an equal amount of black princesses and white princesses, but ONLY black princesses and white princesses, people wouldn't find THAT racist, but it's MORE racist because it excludes several races and cultures.
Fifthly, adding nonwhite people just for the sake of adding them is racist, just as racist as not adding them at all. Tiana is a token black. She was added just because people these days NEED black characters to appear non-racist. That's the only reason. Her story didn't have to be set in New Orleans, or happen to a black character. It could have happened anywhere, to anyone, but Disney set it in New Orleans so it would make sense to have a black character. I call that tokenism.
2. "The Disney princesses are too thin! That's a BAD example for girls! There should be a fat princess!"
The little kids who watch Disney movies don't care about their weight! (They don't care about race, either, for that matter.) Only insecure teenagers care, and if they're going to feel bad because they don't look like Disney princesses, they're kind of messed up. Also, how is it a "bad" example to be thin? Having a fat princess would be a worse example! People shouldn't be using Disney characters as role models, but they're going to anyway, so if there was a fat princess, people would just think, "Oh, it's okay to let myself go and get fat!" Do we really need more obesity in America? Do we? Do we? Maybe a princess without an hourglass figure would be okay, but do they need to be fat? Being sensitive to fat people and encouraging obesity are two very different things.
Someone on the Internet asked if they could SUE Disney for not having a fat princess. I find that completely stupid and unjustified. Yeah, people can sue for any reason nowadays, but that is really, REALLY stupid. How did that person think they would possibly win that lawsuit?
3. "The Disney princesses are anti-feminist! They just fall in love and have no ambition!"
Falling in love is not anti-feminist! I think falling in love with someone you don't know is STUPID, I'll say that. A lot of the princesses were really, really stupid. But that doesn't mean they're anti-feminist. Also, the princes were just as stupid, if not more so. They, too, fell in love with people they didn't know. Phillip, Princess Aurora's prince, just heard her singing and decided to dance with her. At least she had the sense to be freaked out and run away from him. And Snow White's prince thought she was DEAD, and he still kissed her? He conveniently happened to be riding past her coffin and thought, "I know her, I sang with her once. I'll go kiss her." He didn't even know how she died. Yuck. Just yuck.
People like to say Tiana is a good role model. Yes, she had a job, and a goal in life besides marriage. But she was willing to give it all up for Naveen. How is that NOT anti-feminist? Giving up your dreams for a man is probably worse than not having dreams at all. And I don't see how Merida is feminist either. She was a brat and a tomboy, so naturally, everyone thinks she's a good example for kids, but that just makes no sense to me. Parents like her and see her as a role model for their kids, but if I was a parent, I would be horrified. Why would any parent want their kids to see Merida's behavior and think it's acceptable? Defying your parents' rules and turning your parents into animals are good things to teach your kids? I'll admit, Queen Elinor's rules were kind of stupid, but it was proper for the time. And kids will try to use her behavior to defy ALL their parents' rules, even ones that are there for a good reason.
In conclusion, many of the princesses are blond and white for a reason. Kids really don't care. And falling in love doesn't make you anti-feminist. As a final thought, just remember, most of the princesses were growing up in times when women couldn't have jobs. Staying home and cleaning is what they were supposed to do. And the ones who were actually princesses wouldn't have jobs, anyway.
