Do you need a man to be a woman?

The stories of both Snow White and Sleeping Beauty both paint the need for men to rescue them. Due to the ongoing nature of this theme in fairy tales, it has become an on going theme in movies, and now in every woman's life. Women think the only way they have a life is by finding a man. I work at a Baptist school, and in the Baptist church you marry early, have kids early and eat alot. Well a principal at our school recently told me that she had always dreamed of a husband, 2.5 children and a house but that was not Gods plan for her. It is an interesting thing to think about though- going through childhood we are told that we have to find a prince and he has to take care of us- but does that have to happen? No, a woman can live life without a man.

Snow White and Sleeping Beauty

Today I read about 5 different versions of two classic princess movies- Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. In these stories, they did not go by such names but after a few lines you realize that you have heard a similar story before. I think that you take for granted the story that is truely being taught in the "princess" stories because it ends up being about the "Happily Ever After". How often do you sit down and think, " Wow, why did the hunts man not stand up the to the queen and behead her for the threat on Snow White?, or What made Sleeping Beauty's family believe in the faeries?"

I have come to see that all stories have flaws, but they also have history and a message. The image being painted in these stories is that rulers who remarry never make a good choice, husbands do not trust a second wife, Snow White/ Sleeping Beauty be smart about who you trust. ( That's just to name a few)

Today one of my students said that he got mad when his female friends were passive on feminism. I then expressed that I thought that all women have a little bit of feminism but in some it is not visual to ANY man. Women need to learn that they can be in charge too, and they need to become their own hero and watch their backs.

What is this all about?

I am taking a class in Folk and Fairy Tales in my final semester at CUNY- SPS. This is my final elective and I am super excited to be studying the things that we will be reading this semester. The blog is going to be based on the question:

"What image of womanhood is represented in this piece and how does that image uphold or subvert expectations regarding the female gender?"

My hope and expectation is to have a better understanding of the misinterpreted "princess" stories we hear growing up and live by. Enjoy : )