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The princesses are unconvinced that Vanellope is one of them, until Rapunzel asks: “Do people assume all your problems got solved because a big, strong man showed up?”
“Yes, what is up with that?” Vanellope says.
“She is a princess!” they cry in unison.
It’s a scene played with a wink, of course; Disney getting a laugh from stereotypes the studio itself peddled. But for some mothers, it’s not a joke — for them, it’s time to leave the older fairy-tale princesses on the cutting-room floor.
Kristen Bell — who played a Disney princess herself — is one parent who’s had enough with some of these iconic damsels-in-distress.
The 38-year-old actress and mom of Lincoln, 5, and Delta, 3, told Parents magazine this week that she had a serious conversation with her children about the infamous kissing scene in “Snow White,” in which Prince Charming awakens the princess from a deep sleep with a smooch.
“Don’t you think that it’s weird that the prince kisses Snow White without her permission? Because you cannot kiss someone if they’re sleeping!” she said.
Even the basic plot — which usually revolves around a man rescuing a damsel in distress, can send the wrong message, some moms say.
Candice Kilpatrick is expecting a baby girl in January, and says she’s not introducing her daughter to Disney princesses until she and her child can first discuss problematic story arcs.
“Women are portrayed as useless and dependent on men,” said Kilpatrick, a Bed Stuy-based 38-year-old mom of two boys, ages 14 and 11. “Snow White needs a man to save her from a lonely life in the woods.”
Bell, who voiced Anna in “Frozen,” also spoke to her children about Snow White’s naivete.
“Every time we close ‘Snow White,’ I look at my girls and ask, ‘Don’t you think it’s weird that Snow White didn’t ask the old witch why she needed to eat the apple? Or where she got that apple?’ I say, ‘I would never take food from a stranger, would you?’ And my kids are like, ‘No!’ And I’m like, ‘OK, I’m doing something right,’ ” Bell said.
‘I mean, the songs are great, but do not give your voice up for a man’
She’s not the only actress questioning Disney movies. Keira Knightley recently told Ellen DeGeneres that her 3-year-old daughter, Edie, is “banned” from watching “Cinderella” and “The Little Mermaid.”
The actress, 33, said the 1950s Cinderella character “waits around for a rich guy to rescue her. Don’t! Rescue yourself. Obviously!”
Knightley also condemned the message of “The Little Mermaid.”
“I mean, the songs are great, but do not give your voice up for a man. Hello,” she said.
A 2016 Brigham Young University study found that preschoolers who consumed media featuring Disney princesses were more likely to exhibit stereotypically feminine behaviors such as being passive and caring more about personal appearance. Lead author Sarah M. Coyne thinks this can put constraints on how young girls see themselves.
“It’s very limiting — some girls may be less likely to take interest in math and science,” said Coyne, a professor of human development.
She also says that characters such as Cinderella and Rapunzel, who are mostly submissive, may not be the best role models.
But some moms argue that these princesses have redeeming qualities and shouldn’t be kicked out of the cartoon cannon.
Andrea Morgan, vice president of Midtown-based p.r. company Makovsky, says there’s nothing wrong with her 7-year-old twin girls being fans of Princesses Aurora of “Sleeping Beauty” and Ariel of “The Little Mermaid.”
“We’re heading to a place where people have gotten so politically correct with things, you can’t take a step back and have something nice to watch,” Morgan, 46, told The Post. “It’s a fairy tale and make-believe. It’s not meant to be real life.”
She also says it’s not Disney’s job to teach her kids what’s right or wrong. “That’s up to me and my husband,” Morgan said.
And, although these movies were made in a different era, she believes that girls can still learn life lessons from the characters.
“We’re huge Ariel fans,” Morgan said. “She stayed true to herself and went after what her heart wanted, which is Prince Eric. And she goes on to have a child and become a great mother — that’s really important.”
Professor Coyne says that parents shouldn’t ban kids from watching these old-school Disney movies, but they should have conversations with them about certain storylines.
“There are good characteristics of these princesses for kids to emulate,” Coyne said. “Like Cinderella. She’s a really hard worker and positive and makes the best out of an impossible situation.”
Coyne also thinks that films like “Snow White” can provide a teachable moment “about the concept of consent” for both girls and boys.
Plus, Disney has evolved over the years. Princesses such as Elsa of “Frozen” and Moana aren’t just girls waiting to be rescued — they’re in charge of their own destinies.
“Moana is one of my favorite princesses because she’s not a gender stereotype. She’s independent and follows her own path,” Coyne said. “She puts herself at risk to help her family … Also, her body shape itself is more realistic than other princesses. Disney is starting to evolve with the times.”
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