Generation 3: 1995- 2009
The princesses of Generation Three exhibit remarkable resourcefulness and determination, achieving a lot, yet their stories do not feel like their own. Disney neglects to adequately research their stories and instead clumsily perpetuate stereotypes of these cultures. These ethnic princesses all display a common theme of being expected to clean up other people’s messes. Additionally, they don’t have the same feminine attributes as the white princesses. They don’t wear gowns or have neat hair and polite manners. Disney clearly depicts that white princesses are beautiful and civilized and Black princesses are not. A study on the impact of television exposure on elementary- aged children showed that for young Black girls and boys, watching television led to lower self- esteem. Conversely, for young white boys, watching television led to a higher self- esteem. Disney did not find their efforts of inclusion profitable or well received, which is why they shift back to what they know in the next generation.
Pocahontas
Disney perpetuates stereotypes of Indigenous cultures while leaving European imperialism and the effects of colonization unmentioned. Additionally, the class difference between the White people and the Native Americans does not teach children an appropriate lesson on how to treat people who are different from them. Pocahontas’ figure is very athletic, while the white princesses have skinny, dainty figures despite not exercising at all in order to show white innocence and purity. Pocahontas is depicted as savage like due to her culture.
Mulan
Mulan goes to war for her people, a difficult task and one that is not the kind of challenge any of her princess predecessors were expected to face. In the beginning of the movie, Mulan is declared unfit by the matchmaker because she is “too skinny, not good for bearing sons.” This is problematic due to the fact that in the grand scheme of Mulan’s story, her body is the least interesting thing about her. Additionally, this is demeaning as it shows the only worth she has as a woman is if she is capable of giving birth to sons. There is a large class difference between Mulan and Li Shang. He is a man with a high military rank, number one in his class, and inherited a good reputation from his father’s status in the military. Mulan can enhance her status only by pretending to be a man and she ultimately becomes a war hero. Li Shang only treats her as an equal because she is rational and courageous, traits he does not believe women possess. If she had been more traditional, he would have dominated her.
Tiana
For three quarters of the film, Tiana is a frog, which symbolizes Disney’s reluctance to have a Black princess. While Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and Cinderella come from wealthy families and live in castles, Tiana dreams of owning a restaurant. She works two jobs and her mother is a cleaning lady. She does not achieve this dream until a man helps her in purchasing the restaurant. Disney seems to believe that Tiana, being Black, must struggle financially due to her race. The lens she is portrayed in is one of a “Black servant,” a racist historical representation of Black women. Additionally, Tiana is lighter skinned, has calm and tamed slightly curled hair and a small waist. Her physical characteristics are being filtered to coincide with white standards of beauty rather than her own culture.
Connection to US History
Some important events in history that occur in this generation are the rally at the National Mall which was a day full of speeches addressing racism and issues in the Black community held by the NAACP. There was also The Million Woman March, Colin Powell becoming the first Black secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice becoming the first Black woman to be secretary of state, and lastly, Barack Obama becoming the first Black president of the United States. This era is a time of Black and women’s empowerment, which causes Disney to play into the trend. Additionally, this is an especially important milestone as this is the first time ethnic children get to see themselves portrayed in the movies. However, it seems Disney did not adequately research or hire ethnic experts to assist them with making these movies as they perpetuate harmful stereotypes about each culture and do not give each princess her own story and experience.