perfection perception by Sasha Palma Madrigal
Talking teapots, flying carpets, and singing mice. Despite films from the Walt Disney Company being well known for their magical creatures and imaginative fairy tales, the most unrealistic aspect of the classic stories are their portrayal of female characters. Disney princesses are often portrayed with unnaturally small waists, hourglass figures, huge doll-like eyes and other features that simply aren’t attainable to a real human. These unnatural beauty standards have been instilled in children who carry it through adulthood. With a quick swipe on Instagram it’s clear that these standards of beauty are still prevalent today, beauty is rewarded with likes and follows. Physical beauty is glorified in Disney films and being attractive is associated with being ‘good.’ The beautiful heroines of the film contrast with the often ‘ugly’ and ‘old’ villains. Young girls are unconsciously manipulated into setting impossible standards for themselves and their bodies. They strive to be like their favorite princesses, and while adults might be aware these are fictional characters, children look up to the characters as role models and strive to be perfect like they are. Many children become obsessed with looking and acting like their favorite princess, which can later turn to mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphia.
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