Response to Cinderella

Cinderella Live Blog Post:

Image from https://54disneyreviews.com/tag/villains/

I had forgotten Cinderella’s backstory. I did not remember that her father had remarried and then passed away. A common theme through many Disney movies is parents dying. I wonder why they feel the need to kill them off?

“Oh clock! You kill joy.” Same girl, same

If I could be as happy as Cinderella when she wakes up and have little birds and mice help me get ready in the morning, I would be set. The little bonnets on the birds and clothes on the mice are adorable! However, the animals’ clothing reinforces gender stereotypes. For instance, when Cinderella learns about a new mouse in the mouse trap, she picks out a pink dress. Once she learns it is a boy mouse, she picks up a yellow shirt. This sends the message that girls should always wear pink dresses, while boys can wear yellow, blue, or green shirts like the other boy mice.

The cat is named Lucifer. I did not notice that when I watched this movie as a kid. It is amazing that besides his name and mean actions, the cat just simply looks evil. I think his eyes and teeth play a major role in his evil appearance.

Image from http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Lucifer

I forgot how mean and demanding the step mother and step sisters are to Cinderella. Her step mother makes her do extra cleaning because of the mouse found under the tea cup.

It seems as if all evil characters are ugly and bad singers, while the protagonists are beautiful and good singers. This gives the impression that one can judge someone by how they look, which is unfair and shallow.

“Leave the sewing to the women. You go get the trimming!” Ouch. A female mouse says this to male mouse while they are making Cinderella’s dress for the ball. This antifeminist comment reinforces gender stereotype that women are only good at sewing while men are good at dangerous and physical jobs such as getting the trimming while avoiding Lucifer. The male mice used the scissors and pulled heavy bags while the female mice sewed and measured things. While this scene was a cute gesture by the mice, it is degrading to women. It also shows how far Disney movies have come in terms of progressiveness.

Image from https://cinderellascarriage.wordpress.com/2015/03/08/animals-in-1950-cinderella/

While Cinderella is dancing with the prince, the song “so this is love” is playing in the background. Haha they haven’t even spoken to each other yet. It is crazy to think that just seeing someone suddenly makes you fall in love with them. It also gives the impression that the only thing that matters when one falls in love is one’s appearance, since that is the only thing one knows.

I feel so bad for Gus Gus. He is really struggling up all those stairs. Where did all the other mice go? Can’t they help?

Image from https://54disneyreviews.com/tag/villains/

The movie ends with a happily ever after. Although the movie expresses unprogressive ideas at times with the mice’s gender stereotyped clothing and that the sewing should be left to the women, the movie also conveys a message of perseverance. An excerpt from one of the songs in the film states, “no matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true.” This teaches children to never give up on their dreams. However, a little girl’s goal in life should not be to marry a man. So, while the overall message of perseverance is a positive one, parents should explain to children that they could apply it in a different context.