I don’t believe fairy tales are for children because the princess is always portrayed as being the most beautiful girl. She is only desired because of her physical attributes. She almost never possesses any brains to go with her beauty so she is always in danger needing a handsome man to come to her rescue. In 2024 I am teaching my daughters that beauty isn’t everything. You have to be smart and make decent decisions. Don’t wait on a man to come save you. “Fairy tales, which are still read by millions of American children, say it pays to be pretty,” Grauerholz says. “It’s important to understand the messages our children receive about traditional gender roles, especially during a time when women are encouraged to be independent and rely on their brains rather than beauty. (Liz Grauerholz, Experts say fairy tales not so happy ever after).It pays to be pretty is the part that stood out to me because that phrase is teaching children that beauty is all they need for success. I don’t like that narrative because pretty will really only get you so far. The feminine beauty ideal-the socially constructed notion that physical attractiveness is one of women’s most important assets, and something all women should strive to achieve and maintain. (The Pervasiveness and Persistence of the Feminine Beauty Ideal in Children’s Fairy Tales, Lori Baker-Sperry, Liz Grauerholz). This stuck out to me because again it is teaching women that they should rely on beauty and that it’s a necessity. It also reminds me of the short story that we read The necklace by ” by Guy De Maupassant because the wife was very much concerned with her appearances.
3 thoughts on “Jovan ‘JoJo’ Wellington Discussion Board 11”
I wholeheartedly agree with you. Fairy tales frequently force the damaging idea that a woman’s beauty is her most significant asset, which can adversely influence children’s perceptions of their own worth. Your emphasis on encouraging daughters to appreciate intelligence and independence is crucial, particularly in our current society. The saying “it pays to be pretty” do really conveys a troubling message, implying that looks are more important than attributes like intelligence and strength.
JoJo, your arguments are very well stated here, and I like how you share some information about how this question relates to your own guidance as you raise your daughters. This is only reason for your disapproval of fairy tales, but there is a lot to uncover about this one reason, so I expect your essay will be interesting and in-depth.
I completely agree with your perspective that fairy tales are not suitable for children due to the problematic emphasis on beauty and traditional gender roles. Stories that portray princesses as valued only for their physical attractiveness send a harmful message, reinforcing the idea that ‘it pays to be pretty.’ This narrative undermines the importance of intelligence, resilience, and independence, which are far more essential traits. Furthermore, many fairy tales give children the mistaken belief that a prince will always come to save them in times of danger. In reality, we must face challenges on our own, and teaching children to rely on their own strength and abilities is far more empowering than perpetuating such fantasies.