Why Cinderella is My Favourite Definition of Feminism (and Humanity)
We target the Disney Princesses quite wrongfully
The “natural” dislike of Disney Movies by “feminists”
In my early teenage years, keen to be a rebellious, intellectual, and progressive girl, I denounced princesses, skirts, and the colour pink, disappointing the hopes of my mother.
Not mature yet, I misinterpreted the hot term, Feminism.
I almost morphed into one of the “toxic” feminists once. I wanted to not be like “other girls”, avoided the girly attributes one could have, and bashed the older traditions quite often.
This also meant disliking Disney films.
All its movies seemed to involve the common theme of a damsel in distress. A pretty and innocent girl would get caught in a challenging circumstance. It always had to be up to a man to rescue her and later win her heart.
Fortunately, I matured.
My perspective on Disney Princesses (and feminism) evolved. No longer do I look down upon the tales of the Grimm brothers; I look forward to watching them and interpreting them in ways more than one.
From loathing to love: Why Cinderella’s story is one of my favourites
Cinderella is the most quoted character when we talk about damsels in distress.
According to immature me, it gave the little girls the wrong messages. The story presented us with the false hope of a fairy godmother granting our wishes, and a Prince Charming falling in love with us and saving us from a dreadful life.
For me, it encouraged a passive life for women. A life full of waiting.
But now, I realise how incredible and brave Cinderella was.
Her mother passed away in her childhood. Her father tried to care for the girl the best he could and married a woman who hated Cinderella. He died soon, leaving her with an abusive stepmom and spoilt stepsisters.
Imagine the sheer hopelessness of her life!
A mere teenager, she had no one left to love her. It was likely that she would spend her entire life in servitude of her stepmother and -sisters. Her only true companions were some mice.
This can break a person. It would surely break me.
Yet, no matter how much her life sucked, Cinderella never voiced a complaint. She retained her humanity and kindness instead of turning bitter. She sang. Her hope bloomed as effulgence on her face as she worked with diligence.
The magical wishes granted by the fairy godmother do seem fantastical.
Life does not always go downhill, though. Good happens to all of us and manifests in various forms. It can be an old lady who bolstered your confidence or your teacher who inspired you to go higher.
Lastly, Cinderella didn’t go to the ball for the Prince to notice and save her.
Cinderella never begged for the Prince’s love. Her motive for attending the royal ball was to relish the royal experience for a day. Till now, she had been doing just fine despite the morbid conditions back home.
Cinderella was a girl who wanted a night out for herself and chanced upon finding the love of her life. The prince came after her, not otherwise.
What you and I can learn about feminism and humanity from Cinderella
As I have stated, I didn’t grasp the essence of feminism rightly initially.
From my most worn colour, pink left my wardrobe. I tried to get into video games even though they never caught my attention; I shunned traditionally feminine hobbies like cooking and caring.
Relearning feminism helped me more comfortable with being authentic.
Cinderella is one of the most iconic characters for me.
She teaches us that feminism doesn’t mean choosing pants instead of skirts. One can embrace the “feminine” traits and have a progressive mindset. She remained kind, yet her resilience was laudable.
One can remain soft-spoken and be spirited too!
I struggled because I didn’t want to like the alleged feminine traits. Cinderella taught me feminism is an embodiment of both — “girly” tasks and strength.
You do you.
“I want to tell you a secret that will see you through all the trials that life can offer: have courage and be kind.” — Cinderella (2015)
Cinderella believed in herself, hope, and humanity. Her tale inspired me to be a better person and realise the true essence of feminism.
Do you?
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