When I was six years old, I wanted to be a princess; Snow White, to be exact.  I loved her black hair and blue eyes, like myself.  Her kindness and the way she had the ability to sing to birds and connect with animals.  Her lips were so red, her skin so perfect, if only I knew that was part of the media’s little trick to make me look at myself as less than perfect.  But hey, I was six, what do you expect?

And so, I lived the beginning years of my life in awe of princesses, just wishing a fairy godmother would appear and turn me “beautiful,” whatever that means.  But I knew my wish would never come true, so I got about as depressed as a first grader can get.  Knowing, my voice will never bring flocks of animals running, my skin will never be entirely blemish free, and my “Prince Charming” will not ride on a horse with me, into the sunset.

Classic Disney Princesses are icons of many young girls. But in my mind, they are idealizations.  Portrayals of girls’ too perfect, they have to be fake; because in my experience, life will never turn out as “happily ever after.”

Let’s analyze Aurora for example, after a curse being placed on her stating if she “pricks her finger on a spinning wheel she will fall into a deep sleep.  And can we guess what the b**** does? Guess.  She touches the damn thing, real smart Sleeping Beauty.  This is just the epitome of stupidity.

Then there’s the “skanks” of the princess world, Ariel and Jasmine.  Both have their boobs and midriffs showing throughout the entire movie, I’d say a bit too scandalous for five year olds; am I right?

Then Belle, oh belle.  With her obscenely tiny waist and weird obsessions with beasts.  The princess who encourages girl’s to kiss strange inhumanly creatures.  Why don’t I go kiss a moose while I’m at it?

And don’t forget Cinderella, who teaches instead of being a strong woman and rescuing yourself from a harmful situation, just leave your shoe at some dude’s house, and don’t worry! He will just have to find you and be your savior.  Oh and of course a fairy godmother will appear to grant you wishes something I’ve always envied.

All the classic Disney princesses are the same; thin, perfect hair, fair skin, and shown to be “ideal.”  And all the stories are centered heavily on the idea of finding a man, gaining love, or getting a man’s attention.  The princesses have no other goals, aspirations, or desires besides finding a husband.

I do not understand why.  Why does society feel the need to teach young girls that the only way to be successful is to be beautiful and have a man to protect you?  You cannot learn to fight for yourself, dream of having a career or cover your body; because that isn’t how to actually be successful, right?

What happened to true heroines for young girls to look up to? People who will show girls how to be strong, independent and teach them how to embrace and love their bodies; no matter what size.  I challenge you to take a stand. Stand up against the sexist portrayal of women that young girls are forced to grow up viewing.

We deserve better.