Being a Princess Isn't All It's Cracked Up to Be

Photographer Dina Goldstein didn't watch the Disney Princess movies when she was growing up, and so she is fascinated by young girls complete adoration of these cartoon women. There is no doubt that girls have loved and idealized these women for decades. However, it's pretty clear to most of us that the lives portrayed in these films do not accurately represent the real lives of women.

In her project, "Fallen Princesses," Goldstein photographed several classic Disney Princesses dealing with the issues that actually confront women today, like chemotherapy, war, and unhappiness. I think it is a wonderful, illuminating project. Not that girls are going to studying these photgraphs extensively, but the project shows just how off-base the Disney cartoons are in their portrayal of women. I know the "Disney sends girls the wrong messages about body image, life expecations, and passivity" commentary has been repeated over and over again, but seriously, that means it's got to be a little true, right?

The women in Disney movies, especially the older ones, are portrayed as flawless women, who sing extremely well, and overcome terrible hardships to live happily forever and ever. And, let's be honest, "flawless beauty" is a socially constructed ideal and most women can't really sing all that well. Life is about ups and downs, not ascending to some plateau of fortune, love and happiness.

I think Goldstein's photographs should be posted on the sides of buses, on t-shirts, posters, everywhere. Because she is using such popular characters her project has a greater ability to reach a large audience. I think if millions of people saw these pictures it would prompt a lot of discussion about body image, media, and the issues facing women today.