New Study Confirms You Should AVOID Becoming a Disney Princess If You Can Help It

Disney princesses are arguably some of Disney’s most iconic characters.

Cinderella

There are so many princess-themed experiences all around Disney World, including meet and greets, character dining, the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, and even Cinderella has her own castle in the heart of the Magic Kingdom. Many children, as well as kids at heart, dream of becoming a Disney Princess, but a new study shows that maybe you should avoid that dream.

Now, we are not here to crush any dreams because we love the Disney princesses and their stories, but a new study done by Sanne H B van Dijk and colleagues argues that the Disney Princesses raise concerns not only about stereotyping but also about princesses’ health.

Belle

All fairytales can contribute to raising concerns about stereotyping, but The Walt Disney Company has done a lot to increase the popularity of its movies. According to the study, “these films captivate young viewers, but they also raise concerns about stereotyping.” There are “unrealistic portrayals of relationships, as well as impossible beauty standards such as unnatural waist-to-hip ratios, that can negatively impact girls’ self-esteem.” While the research to date has focused on the effects of the health of the viewer, Sanne H B van Dijk and colleagues say that future research should “consider threats to the health of Disney princesses.”

Mulan

The study says that “Disney princesses face serious real-world health hazards. Surprisingly, however, despite these risks, they seem to live happily ever after.” The study argues that Disney needs to start to think about how to overcome these health challenges rather than rushing into a happily ever after. So how can this be done? There needs to be strategies to improve their stories, which can include “mindfulness and psychotherapy, training on cohabitation with animals, and personal protection measures against infectious agents and toxic particles. Only then can Disney princesses start living healthily ever after.”

Sleeping Beauty

The study examines the stories of eight different Disney princesses and how their stories affect their health. Take Snow White, for example; her social interaction is extremely limited. Although it may sound like a stretch, the study states that there is a “positive association between lack of social interaction and cardiovascular disease, depression, anxiety, and all-cause mortality.” Snow White meets the Seven Dwarfs, which helps with her solitude, but then ends up eating a poisoned apple, which puts her in a “sleeping death.” Oddly enough, this goes against the classic saying that “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

Snow White

Another example is Rapunzel. She is known for her lengthy hair, but having a braid so long that it is used as an elevator cable can cause severe damage. The study says that “Rapunzel’s hair follicles are likely to have been damaged from repetitive, excessive pulling, a condition known as traction alopecia.” In the long run, this can lead to permanent hair loss, as well as scalp pain and headaches. It does not sound very fairytale-esque, now does it?

Hi, Punzie!

While many dream about becoming a Disney princess, the films seem to skip over the actual consequences of some of their actions and cards that they have been dealt and instead rush them into a happily ever after. So maybe becoming a Disney princess is not as great as you would think.

Ariel meeting in Fairytale Hall

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