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Using the Disney Princesses as Role Models for Girls

by

Shelby Strong

Belle, an intellectual teen living in a small village in France, beloved by her father and revered for her beauty by all the villagers, was humble. Her name means “beauty” in French, but she didn’t realize she was beautiful because she always had her nose in a book. She had handsome men falling at her feet, but she would rather learn. Belle showed strength and courage as she entered an agreement to live in a castle with a beast to save the life of her father. She easily looked beyond the Beast’s outward appearance and found something in him that was gentle and that she loved. Because of her love, the Beast’s life was saved and a spell broken. Belle is a positive role model because she is smart, witty, strong and teaches young girls to not strive for outer beauty, but to seek for the beauty that comes from within.

Ariel is another example of a strong willed teenager. She was extremely driven and would not let anyone stand in the way of her dreams. She was a mermaid and her goal was to obtain legs. While seemingly an impossible feat, she found a way to trade her beautiful singing voice for legs. In an amazing feat, she learned how to walk, to help others, and to find her one true love. Ariel and her drive teaches little girls to never give up on their dreams even if they may seem impossible. The impossible seems possible when Ariel is around.Snow White was kind and loving towards animals and those less fortunate. As the most beautiful in the land, she did not love herself most, she loved the Seven Dwarfs and served them kindly and patiently. She was trusting of an old hag and it later led to her near death experience, but was quickly revived by her Prince. Snow White teaches us to look for the best in others and to not be self-centered, to turn our thoughts to what others needs are before our own.Cinderella, beloved by her father and destined to be a queen was another example of humility. Even though she was a princess, she was forced unfairly to do menial labor at the hand of her step mother and step sisters after her father died. She gracefully endured her situation until her Fairy Godmother came to her rescue and helped her arrive at the Ball in style. Prince Charming unraveled the mystery and asked her to marry him. Cinderella teaches young girls to never give up and that your situation does not define you.Lastly, Sleeping Beauty or Aurora teaches us that destiny is certain, but there are those waiting in the wings to help us through our greatest trials. She had complete faith that she would in the end emerge as a true princess. While seemingly dead, others also had faith in her that the curse could be reversed. Sleeping Beauty teaches us to have faith through our greatest trials and to accept help from the angels who live among us. She also teaches us to be kind to animals and to be brave enough to be rescued by the one we love most dearly.

Shelby Strong is a stay at home mom of 2 girls and a boy. She is also a small business owner of an at home business called My Cute Dressups. Visit her site where she sells

Princess Dress up Clothes

. She has seen the immense benefits princess dress up costumes and boy costumes has made in the life of her kids.

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Using the Disney Princesses as Role Models for Girls}