Cinderella has single handedly ruined love in our society. Yes, the dainty blonde slave-turned-gold-digger princess is the classic rags to riches story that has made an imprint on society ever since we first popped her into the VCR.
It's the happy little tale of an innocent damsel bullied and enslaved by her evil stepmother. A random old geezer pops in the story and glams up Cinderella for a party at a singles ball. When the gorgeous prince spots Cinderella he instantly falls in love, hunts her down and five minutes later, they're married!
I know what you're thinking: how could there not be marital fights, divorces or revenge on the evil stepmother? What happens after happily ever after?
The Cinderella story portrays women's lives as empty, pitiful and inadequate until a prince sweeps her off her feet.
Sadly, the roles of Mr. Moneybags Prince Charming and the weak damsel in distress are false gender stereotypes included in numerous Disney movies, which, coincidentally, are geared toward young children.
Through these types of fairy tales, little girls learn at an extremely young age, possibly even before they can talk, that the greatest goal in life is marriage and dependency to a man.
It is crazy that the first movies we watched as children did not teach us life fundamentals like the ABCs, instead they taught us unrealistic ideals about love — one of the most complicated emotions in the universe.
Sure, we all realize that cartoons and fairy tales are not real, but when young children watch these scenarios they see this fantasy lifestyle as ideal because it ends "happily ever after."
This topic of fairy tale love versus reality caught my eye, literally, when I read Jennifer Porto's interview with ASU Sex, Love and Romance in the Mass Media professor Dr. Mary-Lou Galician in The State Press Magazine on Wednesday.
Galician's love logic and her realistic perspective got me thinking about gender roles and the harm they pose to individuals and society.
When describing her personal experiences, Galician said, "Somewhere in my primitive mind, I was looking for a Prince Charming or knight in shinning armor to rescue me."
When it comes to myths in movies, television and magazines, Galician said, "I want people to realize that we can enjoy the portrayals of sex, love and romance in the mass media. We should not use the mythic, stereotypical ones for the basis of our own real-life behavior."
I may sound pessimistic about love, but it's reality. Love is not a fairy tale like many Cinderellas expect it to be. Unlike in fairy tales, relationships need time, hard work and constant effort to flourish.
Even students can attest to this. We all experience the truth that relationships are not always bliss. We overhear struggles everyday from ASU students on campus. Girls on Palm Walk emotionally testifying to their friend, "Like, oh my God, guys are like, such jerks," are commonly overheard phrases we know too well.
Love is a battlefield.
Surprisingly, the new movie, "Enchanted," a spoof on cheesy Disney fairy tales, conveys a realistic image of women by showing the transformation of a damsel in distress into a self-thinking heroine. It breaks the fairy tale stereotype and is pushing society in the right direction.
The underlying morals in the cartoon Cinderella instill a unrealistic standard for women to meet a perfect, rich man at a young age and marry instantly, which instills negative expectations for both sexes.
For Cinderellas and Prince Charmings out there — don't be stupid when it comes to love, or lack of love. Put those negative and unrealistic Disney images out of your head and you will live happily ever after.
Reach the reporter at lauren.misak@asu.edu.
