I'm sort of interested if anyone else has encountered this logic out there.

I've got a distant friend who has an eight year old daughter. She won't allow her daughter to see certain Disney movies. Why? Because she thinks they're inappropriate. Like, her daughter had seen The Beauty and the Beast at a friend's house and then asked for it for her birthday. And the friend of a friend said it was absolutely out of the question. Why? Because that movie teaches children that if someone kidnaps you they can force you to "love" them. So Stockholm Syndrome, to be exact. I find that logic applied to the film absolutely ridiculous. I watched that movie a bunch of times as a child and all I ever learned from it was that beauty comes from within.

I really don't like when people apply adult logic to Disney/kids movies. It just doesn't work that way. Otherwise we might as well say that they shouldn't be allowed to watch The Lion King since that definitely encourages incest, since with adult logic applied we'd have to assume that Simba and Nala are most likely siblings.

Seriously? Just no.

Any thoughts?

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Rest in peace Carrie Fisher, the legend we didn't deserve.

When I watch Disney/kid movies, I say "psh" to adult logic. (well, thats the G version of what i say anyway) Its a fun escape from reality and one that personally I still get excited over. Like with your examples, I am in love with Beauty and the Beast, and I agree, it teaches to find the beauty within a person, and also growth and learning as a person as well, on the Beast's side. Plus the songs are awesome! As for Lion King, yes, with the way that lion prides are structured in the real world Simba and Nala would have been related. But in the real world Simba would have been pushed out of the pride when he came of age. Its a Disney move, its all cute fun. Logic doesn't apply when it comes to genies and flying carpets and princesses with fairy godmothers, or my personal favorite, pirate ships and fairies. In my mind, to block a child from those things is a horrible thing to do. I see it as damaging to one's imagination. Perhaps a bit of an extreme thought, but I may be a tad passionate on subjects such as this. Jury's still out on that though

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Wed Killian Jones (Captain Hook) 4/20/13

The only thing I'd be concerned about is whether I was balancing out my kids intake of princess stuff with some badass awesome women stuff.

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"Just once I’d like to ask someone for help and hear them say, 'Sure. Let’s go. Right now. No strings attached.'"

But Disney has princesses who are badass, though. Belle isn't weak or stupid. She sacrifices her freedom because she loves her father - that's not weak. Ariel leaves her entire family behind for love - that's not weak. Mulan (not a princess, though) uh, you know, obviously goes to war.

I think mot women in Disney movies (Pochahontas, too) has something good to teach young girls. I learned a lot from them and it definitely wasn't weakness or fragility.

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Rest in peace Carrie Fisher, the legend we didn't deserve.

Yep, Disney has done a good job of giving their princesses strong qualities. Young girls can learn something from every one of them.

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Wed Killian Jones (Captain Hook) 4/20/13

I agree that there's not too much to learn from like, Snow White. But hey, she was created yeaaaars ago when the importance of women being independent and taking care of themselves didn't exist.

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Rest in peace Carrie Fisher, the legend we didn't deserve.

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^ By me and my SS *squiggle hugs*

All this talk of Disney films is making me want to have a Disney marathon, take a trip to the child side Granted thats not a big change for me, I still watch Disney movies now and again. But yeah, good point Bella...I guess a lesson one can learn from Snow White is to not accept apples from ugly old ladies.

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Wed Killian Jones (Captain Hook) 4/20/13

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^ By me and my SS *squiggle hugs*

Yeah, I almost find it insulting when people complain about the Disney women and act as if it's horrific for a child to want to dress up as one of them for Halloween, etc.

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Rest in peace Carrie Fisher, the legend we didn't deserve.

Some people are just weird.. Ofcourse, I also think girls should grow up having a positive self-image, knowing they're not dependent on some guy for their protection and/or happiness, but that does not mean we should take away the magic of feeling like a princess! When I go to a fantasy fair I still feel awesome wearing my long flowing gown, even though I still see myself as a strong, independent woman

And I actually think of most Disney princesses as strong female characters: they all fought for things they thought were good, even if that meant sacrificing your freedom (Belle), hiding your gender (Mulan), loosing your voice (Ariel), or risking war (Pocahontas). The only weird thing about them is their tendency to spontaneously start singing at dramatic moments

The cool thing about Disney movies is that they provide magic for children, but can still be entertaining for adults because there are a lot of clever jokes that children just don't understand

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Oh, and just to add to the discussion, I think it's equally okay for young boys to idolize Disney princesses and to want to "be" them. I have a friend whose nephew LOVES Belle and he always dresses up as her for Halloween and such. It's adorable.

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Rest in peace Carrie Fisher, the legend we didn't deserve.

a child would NEVER think "its ok to be held captive and fall for the abusive guy cuz deep down he's nice" from Beauty And The Beast, and if a parent doesnt allow her child to see it because of adult logic is incredibly stupid and doesn't allow the child to be well...A CHILD. Is like saying to a baby that Santa isn't real cause they'll find out anyway, people need to let kids be kids, there's a reason why movies like Shrek have double meaning jokes, is supposed to appeal to kids and adults in different ways.

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You can honestly find controversial issues in EVERY innocent life lesson/story/fairytale... or just anything... if you go out of your way to over-analyse EVERYTHING. But kids don't over-analyse. Kids are innocent - they only see and understand the intended message meant for them.

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Exactly. For adults it's easy to see more than there is and read between the lines. Our brains are more developed, we see things in a different light, and often are more realistic in the way we view things. Kids don't. Kids see literally what is, and don't read anything more into it. They don't watch the Lion King and assume that Simba and Nala are siblings - because that doesn't exist in their world. Adults make the mistake of putting their values and morals into movies not intended for them.

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Rest in peace Carrie Fisher, the legend we didn't deserve.