Heroification and Its Damaging Effects

A Positive View of the Disney Princess Profile As Miley Cyrus was seen swinging naked across her wrecking ball, parents cringed at the thought of their children idolizing the once famous Disney star. Children often idolize many things they see on television and movie productions. At the forefront of that topic is the famous Disney Princess art form. Parents, as well as psychologists, tear apart the pure aspect of Disney and the popular Princess by showing opinionated conclusions of how the Disney Princess is considered bad for the youth of America. The fact remains that if all items are looked at through the figurative magnifying glass, then each one could be considered bad in some way.

It would be logical to ban Barbie. A psychology experiment in 2006 in the United Kingdoms tested 162 girls between the ages of 5-8 to assess how girls view their body image. They discovered those exposed to Barbie had produced “lower self-esteem and a greater desire for a thinner body shape.” (Hoskins) By being exposed to Barbie at a young age, later effects can trigger diseases in girls. Heidi Montag is an example of how Barbie has impacted her life. She has undergone 21 surgeries her own quest for “perfection.” Because girls are impressionable at all ages, Barbie targets young girls to fantasize about being perfect.

He inspires the young depraved ghetto child to rise up against his unfortunate circumstances. Possessing many noteworthy qualities, all heroes possess faults because they are human and all humans possess failings. Because heroes begin to fold and make mistakes as they are suddenly thrust into the awe inspired limelight, and because their pedestals are broken and discarded as the public craves to see the dirt underneath the hero. Heroes are a product of a society's perception of someone to be praised. To be able to praise a hero, that hero must not only be a marvel but that hero must also be humble.

"To every woman a happy ending" (25) continues society's deception that a woman is happy and fulfilled if she possesses physical beauty and acts in a certain manner. "Barbie Doll" offers a sad but realistic view of the drastic consequences that can occur from living in a society that judges young women by unrealistic, false, and superficial values. Too often society fails young women by refusing to recognize, appreciate, and value true beauty, that which lies in young girls' hearts, spirits, and characters. These are the only true things that make a young lady beautiful, and the only qualities that can provide lasting happiness.

That being said makes it no surprise that Disney constantly gets an anti-feminist label on all of their creations. The theme of the princesses’ perfect appearance being necessary to get them the prince often reoccurs. This idea is also backed up by Kathi Maio who states, “The movie says if a young woman is pretty and sweet-natured, she can change an abusive man into a kind and gentle man. In other words it is a woman’s fault if her man abuses her” (Disney’s Dolls).... ... middle of paper ... ...n by naming the title of the movie after the main female protagonists. Just look at the Little Mermaid, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and even Beauty and the Beast.

Through her great teacher Anne Sullivan, she was able to ‘see and hear’ in her silent, black world and become an American hero who became a great role model for many. Helen is absolutely the greatest role model the world has seen. The first reason that Helen Keller is the most inspiring role model of all time, is that she never gave up despite being blind and deaf, she stayed persistent and patient, this is a quality everyone needs. Helen was only 19 months when she caught a disease which was thought to be either scarlet fever or meningitis which caused her to become deaf and blind. This caused lots of trouble because she lost all capabilities of communication and became upset and tempered.

Mother Gothel is given the design to not look the best in her appearance. As done previously in Disney movies, the antagonist is made to look evil. By no means is Mother Gothel as ugly as Yzma in Emperor’s New Groove, but Mother Gothel lacks innocence. Mother Gothel is very vain as she is always concerned for her beauty. However, Disney does not give us an explanation on why Mother Gothel wants to stay young forever.

At 86 years old, just a month before Anthony died, she gave her last speech saying that failure is impossible (“Susan B. Anthony”). After 50 years of trying to get equal rights, she died (Ghiglieri 1-25). On June 26, 1920, the Anthony Amendment was passed allowing women the right to vote legally (Ghiglieri 1-25). She was the first woman to be honored by getting her face on the dollar coin proving that even when there is no hope you can always achieve your goals if you work hard enough, want it bad enough, and stay determined to accomplish anything (“Susan B. Anthony”). Susan B. Anthony showed patriotism in early life, adulthood, and even after death by never giving up on the women’s rights movement.

We may know the most controversial piece of molded plastic formed into the shape of an out of proportion woman with blonde hair. Her name is Barbara Millicent Roberts, or as we know her, Barbie. With her odd portrayal of a woman, many believe that Barbie should be banned for suggesting to young girls that a woman only has one image to strive for. But Barbie is no more than a “piece of plastic” molded into something that looks nothing like a woman at all; she is a simply innocent child’s toy that should never be used as a tool for feminists. The Barbie controversy started in 1959 when she was introduced to a toy fair in New York after becoming popular overseas.

Soon after, Barbie was advertised strictly just for children through mass media. Although the Barbie doll is supposed to symbolize the various job opportunities for females, she has become the idea of what the country now sees as the “perfect woman” and is criticized around the world for her negative effects on girls’ self-esteem and eating habits. The average girl in America is raised up surrounded with images of Barbie’s body image. An overwhelming 99% of girls between the ages of three to twelve own at least one Barbie doll. Constantly surrounded by Barbie’s perfect body image can take a toll on one’s self-esteem and body perception.