The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

    Disney does not lack diversity

    Disney princesses were a big part of my childhood, but are also a part of my adult life. I am a big fan of everything Disney. There is just something so special about the Disney princesses. 

    Disney’s princess list dates back to 1937 when “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” was released, giving us Princess Snow White, to the most recent Disney Princess, Moana. The new dilemma today is the “lack of diversity” with Disney princesses. Excuse me? I’m sorry. What? That makes absolutely no sense. I can name a number of Disney princesses that are not Caucasian. The first one I will mention is Princess Tiana, whose movie “The Princess and the Frog” is based on my hometown of New Orleans, and who is African-American. The next princess I will mention is Pocahontas. Yes, not only is she a princess, but she is one of the eight original Disney princesses. What I love about Pocahontas is not just her Native American heritage, but that she is based on a real person. Of the other original eight princesses, Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas and Mulan, two really stick out to me, Princess Belle from France and Mulan from China. These two princesses come from very different backgrounds and are royalty in two different ways. 

    When looking back at past Disney coronations, I have learned that Rapunzel, a German princess was the 10th Disney princess coronated and Merida, the Scottish princess, was the 11th. I am very confused as to why some people think that Disney is lacking in diversity. I think people are confusing diversity with favoritism. 

    As a lover of all things Disney, I do have a favorite princess. Princess Belle, obviously from “Beauty and the Beast,” is my all time favorite princess. As I have noticed, the more popular princesses are most often the original eight. I will also remind people that the original eight all come from different backgrounds and/or countries. So, maybe it’s not diversity, but just favoritism. My generation is probably pulled toward the original eight, whereas someone born in 2010 will be more receptive to choose a newer princess like Merida or Rapunzel. I, unfortunately, have not had the opportunity to see Merida in her movie “Brave,” but I have seen Rapunzel in her movie “Tangled.” “Tangled” is definitely a movie I could watch on repeat just like “Beauty and the Beast.” People just need to realize that maybe it’s not the lack of diversity they are seeing, but children, or a child at heart like me, pick favorites because it is our society.

    I honestly see no harm in  having a favorite. People just need to open their eyes and realize that diversity in Disney is never lacking and they welcome all nationalities into their domain. 

     

     

     

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