Mohsina Islam
Contributor
If you’re looking to escape reality for an hour and forty minutes, I recommend you watch Tangled.
That’s not to say the movie is a pointless venture into the world of fantasy. In fact, there are two important lessons to be learned:
1) never lose hope, and
2) outrageously long hair can be an asset.
Even though they tend to get her tangled in a big mess sometimes, I don’t mind Rapunzel’s flowing locks. What I do mind, however, is her two-inch waist–not because I find it unattractive but because it sends the wrong message to children who rely on Disney movies to understand notions of female beauty.
Most, if not all, adults know that female beauty is not defined by a certain waist size. The same, however, cannot be said about children, especially young girls. To a majority of them, a two-inch waist and a slender body are the prime characteristics of female beauty. I know this because during my spare time I volunteer with a group of young girls, and I often hear them complain,”I’m too fat!” or “I need to lose weight.”
The other day, one of them even asked me if there was some kind of pill she could take to lose weight. Her words broke my heart.
Children should not feel the need to alter their bodies to fit superficial notions of beauty. That there are perfectly healthy children among us who entertain the thought of losing weight should be a matter of concern, not just to average citizens but to media conglomerates, like Disney, who perpetuate ideals of female beauty that are unhealthy and unrealistic. For Rapunzel, a two-inch waist requires only the skills of a cartoonist, but for the rest of us it requires a rigorous diet and, possibly, starvation.
For all these reasons, I’d like to see a remake of Tangled in which Rapunzel’s waist, and every other female character’s waist, is proportionate to the rest of her body. I’d like for Disney to send a message about female beauty in line with reality.
A two-inch waist is no longer ideal because we do not live in Elizabethan England: we live in the twenty-first century, where concepts of female beauty are evolving daily.
Disney would do well to take note.
Rapunzel, Rapunzel! Lose your two-inch waist!
About the Author
“If you’re looking to escape reality for an hour and forty minutes, I recommend you watch Tangled.”
A 2 inch waist is not realistic… you propose that this movie is great to lose track of reality, yet you attack Disney’s success at doing so.
While we’re at it, I think her male counterpart is too handsome. Most men aren’t handsome… Disney should make him uglier. Come to think of it… so should Rapunzel. She’s too hot. Most people aren’t like that, and that offends me.
IF Disney made Hannah Montana anorexic, for example, then I’d be all for your article and what it’s trying to say… however, it’s a cartoon… and just like those dudes who make oversized cartoon heads of people who are willing to sit there and be drawn… it’s not real, and it’s intent is to distort or misrepresent the human figure. Disney just polishes it up and packages it a bit better, I guess.
Come to think of it, I think Anime cartoons shouldn’t make the eyes so big. This is unrealistic to achieve and therefore providing it for human cultural consumption is dangerous.
Do you blame the cartoon for being unrealistic, or the human for being ignorant enough to NOT be able to cognitively process the difference… which is the bigger problem here—like fat people who blame the hamburger, or the gun for having shot the person. Treat the cause and not the symptom.
Buddy, I think you’re missing the point of the article. It’s not about what we adults think. It’s about what kids think. They don’t know that a two-inch waist is unrealistic.
“Most, if not all, adults know that female beauty is not defined by a certain waist size. The same, however, cannot be said about children, especially young girls.”
All that’s being said here is ‘the 2-inch waist isn’t realistic; change it for the kids.’ At least that’s what I got from it.
Normally I’m against killing but this article slaurhteged my ignorance.
More posts of this qutialy. Not the usual c***, please
Reading this reminds me of Mickey Mouse Monopoly…I can see what the article’s trying to get at.
That inshgit’s just what I’ve been looking for. Thanks!
I have been so beedeilrwd in the past but now it all makes sense!
I believe her waist is small yes, and I understand your side. But do know, body’s come in all different shapes and sizes. I do think that Disney should have more diversity but for a person who doesnt gain weight and literally looks like Rapunzel. Your shame over my waste size makes me feel like crap. I know this wasn’t your intention but please know. Skinny is not always unhealthy.