A Disney Story that Actually Respects Women

When Frozen came to the big screen their was a huge fuss about it being the first Disney movie that doesn't teach young girls that's it's OK to "marry someone you've just met", as the lead characters have so clearly put it. They also say it's the first to portray a woman as a savior and focus on sisterly love rather than a prince charming. I do agree that Frozen is special and great, and a good shift in the Disney movies, but it's not one of a kind, or is it the first to portray a woman with a strong character, who is also a savior and not one to fall for a prince charming, just because, well, he's a prince and charming.

Comparing Frozen to Cinderella, Snow White or Sleeping Beauty would actually make it seem as a breakthrough; although these movies have some nice teachings they have indeed ruined the idea of true love. Yet there is another movie that is underrated, that had teachings about true love that are even greater than those in Frozen.

Yes, I'm talking about Beauty and the Beast. Belle was beautiful, but her beauty was not her asset; she was bright, curious and a hard worker. She didn't fall for the charming guy, just because of his looks and actually saw that he had a brain smaller than that of a snail. She gave herself in for the Beast because her love to her father was stronger than her fear. She was scared of the Beast, but her strong personality was not broken by him. She was able to say no, loud and clear, to what she did not accept. And later, she was able to see through the looks, and love the Beast for the character hidden under the barbaric behavior. At the end, Belle, the common girl, the bright, strong personality was able to tame the Beast, she was able to break the prince's spell.  The common girl was the prince's savior.

Belle's character is so much more sophisticated and refined than that of Elsa's and Anna's. Elsa chose freedom over responsibility, while Anna was only moved by her love to her sister, but had no personality of her own. Belle's character is one which all fair communities should strive to bring up their girls to be like. And although the teachings are not said as clearly as they were put in Frozen, they are all there, and more. I'm happy I grew up watching Beauty and the Beast, and it's that movie that I shall want my daughter to watch and learn from.

Because simply, this what I call true love.

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