“ A gender-equal society would be one where the word “gender” does not exist: where everyone can be themselves” (Gloria Steinem).  The Little Mermaid, Rapunzel, The Princess and the Frog, and Snow White are all fairy tales that depict the desire for freedom despite any obstacles each princess had to face. The author says that these princesses are looking for love, and described that as a main theme in their fairy tales.  However, love and happiness is not their purpose in life, but these princesses like many women sought freedom. The fairy tales are about princesses speaking up and trying to gain their freedom back and be happy. The author related the fairytales to the modern world, and described that women specifically seek out love. “An example can be all these apps of love nowadays like tinder…. her looking for their perfect man”. These stories showcase the struggles that girls go through in their lives to achieve their goals and find happiness, and not necessarily with love and relationships as a goal. In modern society, the issues of equality, freedom, and happiness for women are still prevalent, showing that the themes presented in these tales are also relevant. 

One of the most pressing issues that girls face in modern society is inequality. Women have been fighting for equal rights and opportunities for decades, and the struggle for equality still continues today. This struggle is evident in the protests and movements for equal pay and representation in government, a continuous fight for their rights to be heard and to be treated fairly, just like the heroines in these tales. The heroine in these tales can be role models for young women so they can learn about perseverance. Many of these female protagonists in these fairytales understand their position in life as unfair, and learn along the way the importance of speaking up and fighting back. Snow White fought for her life in the forest to live by running away from her evil stepmother, and Rapunzel did everything possible in order to escape the tower and her controlling mother to be independent. All of these characters show in a variety of ways how they overcame their issues and persevered for their rights. The first step for these princesses was to realize their unfair situations, usually including a controlling parent. The author said “ the point of this essay with the girls of the society to demonstrate their focus in life and objectives.” Although these princesses have found their happiness ever after with the prince, these girls had to combat adversities and inequalities in their life first. Their focus in life was not to find love, but these princesses learned to be outspoken in order to make their voice heard and fight for their freedom.

The need for freedom is another theme that is relevant to girls in modern society. Women are fighting for their freedom from domestic violence, sexual assault, and forced marriages, among other things. Women are constantly fighting to better their lives, meaning they want to be free to live without fear of harm or discrimination. The heroines in these tales longed to be free from past adversities, whether it was from a curse or from an evil stepmother, and seek freedom. Once Rapunzel escaped her toxic mother, she was able to discover the world outside her tower and meet new people..She hit various obstacles across the way but she still persevered, and her biggest action in attaining her freedom was cutting her hair as she was free from the curse that got her kidnapped in the first place. Like the heroines in the tales, women today are fighting for their freedom. Although happiness and love are essential themes in the tales. In The Little Mermaid, Ariel wanted to be free from her Dad in order to live her life to the fullest. Ariel did everything to escape him even if it meant sacrificing her voice in exchange for her freedom. These princesses in these stories will do anything and everything in order to find and be their true selves not for a prince or love. Women want to find their purpose in life, whether it is to run a successful business, or other things. In the Princess and the Frog, Tiana became a businesswoman by opening up her own bakery. Tiana had a passion for food and after going through a long journey of hardships in ending the curse of being a frog, she was able to achieve her dream of baking. . The author states “ We see…that a lot of her (princesses) looking for the happiness, a love, [to] make their families their future”. This quote by the author is trying to say that princesses need a family to feel fulfilled in life, which is in fact not true as seen by Tiana. Young women in the real world want to be happy and fulfilled in their lives, just like the heroines in the tales. These princesses are examples that show why love isn’t the main moral of these stories, but having their voice heard to make their dreams come true is the true theme.

In conclusion, the themes presented in Rapunzel, The Little Mermaid, The Princess and the Frog, and Snow White are still relevant today. Women are fighting for their rights to be treated equally, to be free, and to find happiness and love in their lives. These tales showcase the struggles that women face in their lives and the determination they have to overcome them. Young women today can learn from these tales and use the lessons learned to fight for their own rights and freedoms.

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