Paper Bag Princess Stereotypes

Princesses’ in Disney movies are tied down to a recurring theme: the princess that must be saved from the evil woman by the charming prince. A significant contrast to the usually weak and easily persuaded figure of the father. Even though the women are portrayed as weak, nobody stops to think how strong they have to be to carry the responsibility of an entire household on her shoulder, while the men always seem to be traveling or ill. Fairytales are based on a patriarchal way of thinking and as time passes by, it’s proven to be detrimental to society Women and men are constantly being bound to a series of stereotypes. These stereotypes have always existed but have been passed down to us, precisely, by these stories. They target the most impressionable part of society, children. The purpose of these tales is to teach children how to behave and in which social norms they must fit into. “Fairy tales are a child's world of imagination and pleasure, but

Paterson read a book called The Paper Bag Princess to the students and asked them why the princess was always the one captured. The children responded in a predictable way by saying that she had to be captured in order for the prince to save and marry her. She expressed her worry about children who felt differently about the social norm of heterosexuality. “It’s really important to create inclusive learning environments for everyone in the school so that those voices aren’t being lost.” (Paterson) Everyone has a right to education and part of that right is to feel included and to no be criticized by any reason. Movies based on the fairytales are made like this so they could have a moral at the end of the story and usually those morals are necessary in a child’s upbringing. For example: kindness, friendship, respect, bravery and