Who was the first Disney heroine who was given sex appeal?

[Elladorine]

Alright, alright, I get it now. Ariel just needs to eat some Milk Buds so she won't be so damned skinny.



So glad I took the time to make my earlier replies.

[Scarred4life]

Cartoon or not, it is still sending out the message that girls should aspire to be this thin. And can you honestly tell me that little girls don't want to be like the princesses? They look at these characters and admire them. They want to be princesses, they want to be like Ariel. Girls are going to look at Ariel and say 'I want to look like that'. They are influenced by her just as much as by the girls in magazines. Probably more, considering they 'know' Ariel, in a sense. Being constantly bombarded by both unrealistic images from both magazines and their favourite films are doing harm. How can you say that unrealistic body shapes are okay in animation, but not okay in magazines?

[milojthatch]

Cartoon or not, it is still sending out the message that girls should aspire to be this thin. And can you honestly tell me that little girls don't want to be like the princesses? They look at these characters and admire them. They want to be princesses, they want to be like Ariel. Girls are going to look at Ariel and say 'I want to look like that'. They are influenced by her just as much as by the girls in magazines. Probably more, considering they 'know' Ariel, in a sense. Being constantly bombarded by both unrealistic images from both magazines and their favourite films are doing harm. How can you say that unrealistic body shapes are okay in animation, but not okay in magazines?

I agree, which is why I was happy that Nani in "Lilo and Stitch" was a woman's real shape for once. I also feel it degrades women when these cartoons show off as much skin as some of them do. I'd have a hard time believing that Jasmin and Ariel haven't had some impact on how 20 and 30 somethings women dress today. I won't say it was all them, but I bet it has been one of the many factors.

That said, to be fair, how do you dress a mermaid modestly?

[Super Aurora]

Yeah, but at least she's got a middle that keeps her chest from falling off, unlike Ariel. Still, that's very thin. Are you sure that picture isn't photoshopped? The middle looks... I dunno, the curve seems strange. She's got a beautiful face, though. <3

Other than that shutterstock logo, nope. not photoshopped. Also that's averagely normal body for teenage girls which is what Ariel is: A 16 yr old teenage girl.

Nice Ass, bewbs, and vagina.

Cartoon or not, it is still sending out the message that girls should aspire to be this thin.

Not really. Unless we're talking about Gaston. Then that's a whole another story.

All men should be aspire to be like Gaston. That's a written law.

[Goliath]

[...] I also feel it degrades women when these cartoons show off as much skin as some of them do. I'd have a hard time believing that Jasmin and Ariel haven't had some impact on how 20 and 30 somethings women dress today. I won't say it was all them, but I bet it has been one of the many factors. [...]

I have to disagree very strongly here. I don't think it's up to men to judge how girls/women dress. Obviously, when a girl is very young, parents should have a say over it because otherwise it can be inappropriate (Cyrus sister flashback!), but otherwise I'm in no position to judge what is or isn't "modest" or "degrading" on women's clothing. It all depends on your values. If you're a very conservative person, you'd think Jasmine's costume is not appropriate. If you're very liberal, like me, you see nothing wrong with it. Ultimately, what's "degrading" to women can only be judged and decided by women themselves; each and every one of them individually.

Not our call.

Other than that shutterstock logo, nope. not photoshopped. Also that's averagely normal body for teenage girls which is what Ariel is: A 16 yr old teenage girl.

I know she's a young teenage girl and so is Ariel, but I still thought the curve seems a little odd. Maybe I'm looking at it the wrong way. Not that she's unattractive or anything... By the way, I would edit out the c-word if I were you. I don't think that's appropriate and not allowed here.

[Elladorine]

Cartoon or not, it is still sending out the message that girls should aspire to be this thin. And can you honestly tell me that little girls don't want to be like the princesses? They look at these characters and admire them. They want to be princesses, they want to be like Ariel. Girls are going to look at Ariel and say 'I want to look like that'. They are influenced by her just as much as by the girls in magazines. Probably more, considering they 'know' Ariel, in a sense. Being constantly bombarded by both unrealistic images from both magazines and their favourite films are doing harm. How can you say that unrealistic body shapes are okay in animation, but not okay in magazines?

Again, the difference is in the perception of reality. I don't think I was smarter than the average child and I knew better even back then. I was quite aware that cartoons weren't real, but looking at a realistic airbrushed image would have probably been a different story. Once again, at least when it's a cartoon the untrained eye can tell the difference between fantasy and reality. I've also worked closely with children for several years, including many young girls that admired the princesses and played plenty with Barbies. In fact the only time I ever remember a character's figure being an issue was when one of the fifth grade boys wanted to know why Elastigirl's butt was so big.

And for the record, I've struggled with eating disorders since I was 12, was anorexic in my early 20's, and am currently overweight even though I've already lost over 120 pounds. If anyone should be pissed at the Disney princesses for being unrealistic role models, it's me . . . and I'm not. But did I ever cry myself to sleep because I could never make my eyes as big as Ariel's? Or because my waist could never be small as hers? Nah. And to be fair, maybe my issues lie elsewhere. But I have a hard time believing that even a little girl would make such harsh, unfavorable comparisons of herself to cartoon character, even a favorite one. Those comparisons tend to be more positive and fantasy-based.

[Marce82]

First off, girls stop looking at Disney Princesses as role models when they hit 9 these days... maybe even earlier. I think looking at photoshopped images of Hanna Montana or High school musical stars is far worse. Its when they reach their teens that girls get insecure about their looks (mostly).

Also, it has been my experience that women are far more critical of each other's bodies than anything coming from men. What I gather from this is that its not so much sex appeal but looking good in clothes that is the issue. Most guys I know LIKE curves on women, and are usually turned off by the very skinny ones.

Also, are we going to start censoring Disney movies based on what the public thinks is appropriate or healthy? I believe the Disney Artists balance very well their responsibility to the public and their artistic integrity.

THis is, again, trying to get political correctness take charge. Why don't we just tell hollywood to make full figured women the object of every leading man's affections, animated or not?

Also, Aurora was very skinny and I didnt see that becoming the trend in the 60's.

[Goliath]

Also, are we going to start censoring Disney movies based on what the public thinks is appropriate or healthy? I believe the Disney Artists balance very well their responsibility to the public and their artistic integrity.

THis is, again, trying to get political correctness take charge. Why don't we just tell hollywood to make full figured women the object of every leading man's affections, animated or not?

Who's talking about any of this? Not me, nor did anybody else who was criticizing Disney's heroines for being too thin. You know, it always strikes me how much more dramatic staunch 'defenders' of Disney are, than people who criticize Disney. They always blow every little hint of criticism of Disney into enormous proportions, like you are doing now. It seems like, to some people, every fair and reasonable criticism of Disney (even when it comes from people who actually love Disney, like me) has to be ridiculed and made into something which it's not... like suggesting I want to censor Disney. The term 'politically correct' gets horribly abused these days by people who can't take any criticism; it's their catch phrase to toss out against people who disagree with them.

[carolinakid]

[quote="Marce82"]

Also, Aurora was very skinny and I didnt see that becoming the trend in the 60's.[/quote}

Well, the '60s did give us Twiggy and that whole waif/emaciated look. But I doubt Aurora had anything to do with that. Most probably Cruella DeVil!