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Thanks to Princesslullaby's recent poll questions, I ended up looking at my own childhood vs. each Disney Princess's childhood. Some of this is just painful for me, and there is no getting around that.

My categories of adverse childhood situations (some with severe adverse conditions) are based on evaluation from the domestic violence class I took. I'll be frank. I have my own dissociation/childhood trauma.


This is an article where I'm defining where I'd group categories of adverse childhood experiences, specifically for the Disney Princesses. I'll also add in how each princess copes with their where-I-was-born dilemma.

Ariel and Rapunzel are right close together, because they just share the border between authoritarian parenting and authoritative parenting. Those parenting styles are similar, but are not the same.


Severe and Pervasive Childhood Oppression-- the Authoritarian Parenting Style

Cinderella, Snow White, and Ariel receive this slot.

Cinderella

Cinderella becomes a slave in her own home. With her parents both dead, her stepmother treats her like dirt. Cinderella has the most "hope in her heart" next to Snow White. Cinderella copes by daydreaming and dreaming of a life free of her tormentors.

Snow White

Snow White is first shown in rags, and is mopping the stairs of the castle. I don't know how she ended up as a slave, but with both parents dead, and another evil stepmother in place... Snow is basically impoverished, with one good dress, and one that is rags. Stepmother tries multiple times to kill this girl. Snow copes by singing songs, by praying, and by doing her own pastimes: cleaning and baking.

Ariel

Ariel is first shown exploring a shipwreck, and saving her best friend Flounder from a shark. The very next scene we get featuring Ariel is one in which she gets scolded by the court conductor, Sebastian, and reprimanded by her father for forgetting to show up at a concert. It seems like both the court conductor and Ariel's dad each are insulted and embarrassed by Ariel's behavior, and so the two of them "decide between them" that Ariel requires CONSTANT SUPERVISION. This "constant supervision thing" is Sebastian's idea, first, but King Triton wholeheartedly agrees with it, and this set-up soon predominates Ariel's whole existence under the sea. Sebastian is tracking Ariel's every move. It's Sebastian who sells out Ariel by divulging that she saved a human and is keeping a grotto of human detritus. Ariel copes by singing to herself, collecting what debris she can find, and generally trying to remain upbeat in a restrictive atmosphere. However, for her pains, Ariel is yelled at for her forgetfulness and curiosity; her father uses his trident and violently destroys her collection to "get through to her" that all humans are awful, and that he protects her by dominating her life. I find "constant supervision" stultifying to a person. This should be applied only to someone who is around 5 years old or less. Ariel is not 5 years old in the original 1989 film.
Constant supervision is not something a sixteen year old wants, and most psychologists will tell you, that parents who "set-up" this authoritarian parenting style are actually implementing abuse.


Less Severe, but Extremely Problematic Parenting Styles-- halfway between Authoritarian and Authoritative

Rapunzel

Rapunzel is kidnapped soon after birth because her parents used/stole an enchanted flower that belonged to a witch named Gothel to prevent Rapunzel's mother from dying in childbirth. Gothel decides that in retribution for what was "stolen" from her, she will do the stealing, too. So Gothel sneaks in and steals their child away... which is similar to the original Rapoince tale where Rapoince's father steals this type of lettuce from the witch's garden to prevent his wife from dying, and in trade, the witch steals the daughter from the parents. So, Rapunzel's folks are partly to blame for what happened to Rapunzel even in the Disney version. Afterward, Punzie grows up isolated in a tower, provided with every material thing she could want from Gothel, save seeing another face that isn't Gothel's. Punzie sings, paints, plays chess, sews, cooks, makes candles, reads, and tracks the stars. Punzie dresses up her chameleon, Pascal, to get a practical joke or two. These are Punzie's coping mechanisms, along with seeing "the lights" every year on the same day. Punzie is most curious about the lights, and THIS is the part where she feels DISSATISFIED. Otherwise, Punzie doesn't see her life as horrible, and this is rooted in her own ignorance resulting from Gothel's situational manipulation, and this is also partially because Gothel hasn't been a helicopter parent on Punzie, nor reduced Rapunzel to direct servitude. It's Pascal who attempts to leave the tower first, and Punzie scoops him up before he can get too far out the window. Rapunzel feels BORED and wonders "when will my life begin?" But is she tormented? I have seen children who were tormented individuals (as I am a nurse), and I can tell you that no, Rapunzel is not acting like a tormented adolescent. Finally, deviating from the warped fairy-tale, Disney introduces Flynn/Eugene who stumbles on Punzie's tower while running from a heist-gone-bad. And it is Rapunzel who ties Flynn up and DEMANDS that he take her to see the lights if he wants the "crown object" back. Gothel is abusive in creating an environment that preys on Rapunzel's gullibility and ignorance. But compared to someone who is under constant supervision for every choice ( which is what is going on with Ariel)--- this is not so with Rapunzel. Gothel visits Rapunzel once a week, if that. And Rapunzel doesn't get told that her priorities are wrong. Gothel has "one rule" for Rapunzel, while Triton's law on humans was more like 5 rules disguised to deter dissent. I see Rapunzel as a victim of both her parents stupid choice to steal a plant, and as Gothel's equally stupid retaliation move to prevent age deterioration. But when I think about Rapunzel's actual day-to-day existence, Rapunzel's day-to-day life is more like Merida's and Jasmine's: little on the excitement part, and big on the tedium. Gothel never gives Rapunzel constant supervision. Rapunzel hides Flynn before/and while Gothel is there. Rapunzel herself is good at withholding things she doesn't want her pseudo-stepmom to know. Even the Rapunzel in the original tale hid the ladder she was making to escape the tower. The Rapunzel in Disney's tale and in the original has agency, and she makes her own choices. She is not being supervised and bullied 24/7.


Merida

Merida's mother is strict. Merida doesn't get "a day all of her own" until the end of the week, as it were. Most of the time Elinor is trying to groom Merida to become the next Queen of Dunbroch. Merida doesn't like this, and balks at every opportunity. Merida copes with her mother's restrictive schedule on her life, by using the bleep out of her "one day a week personal time" to do everything from archery to climbing the firefalls. Elinor is strict, but she isn't sneakily abusive like Gothel, nor is she constantly supervising Merida's whereabouts like Triton does to Ariel through Sebastian. I don't like Elinor initially, because she's so prim and stuck-up, but she does less harm to Merida than Gothel and King Triton do to Punzie and Ariel.

Jasmine


She's confined to the palace. She is restricted by location and by the fact that she has to marry a prince. Jasmine's options in suitors irritate her, and she chafes at being "a prize to be won." But Jas has a better life than Rapunzel and Merida, because the sultan, her father, is never purposely sneaky nor purposely restrictive. He also does not send someone to watch Jasmine 24/7, and leaves her largely to herself. Jasmine copes... by having Rajah nip and bite playfully at her suitors. That's the bonus for having a tiger for a pet.


Mulan

Chinese culture was restrictive and obligated women to become wives. Mulan isn't confined to the house like Rapunzel is, doesn't seem to have a rigid schedule like Merida, and doesn't have a designated row of suitors pushed up in her face like Jasmine. However, Mulan doesn't have the freedom to be herself and to make her own choices, which is societal and which her parents are reinforcing. The good thing is that Mulan isn't being watched 24/7 either, which is why she could get away with cheating and painting verses on her arm as a method to try to pass the matchmaker's exam. Mulan mopes and sings when coping with her situation. I don't see her doing a lot else in the movie with coping, at least not until she decides to try to prove herself.


The Best Childhoods Among The Disney Princesses-- halfway between Authoritative and Permissive

Aurora

The movie seems to show that Aurora hardly received a stern word from Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather. Aurora views these women as "my three nosy aunts," but doesn't seem to feel that they are undeniably restrictive, and who watch her every movement. In fact, the three fairies send Aurora out all by herself on her sixteenth birthday to collect berries. That doesn't sound like King Triton's constant supervision of Ariel, nor Rapunzel's "one limitation rule," nor Merida's strict schedule of activities, nor Jasmine's palace ennui, nor Mulan's societal expectation. Aurora has more freedom....now that I consider it...than a lot of the princesses have had. And I did not realize this before. How far did Aurora roam in the forest during all of her childhood? She seems pretty darn familiar with her surroundings. Aurora copes with her pervasive loneliness by using sly humor, singing to herself, and dreaming at night of her "mysterious stranger."

Belle

With the exception of her mother dying in Paris ( or somewhere) during Belle's youth when she was probably 3 or 4, Belle doesn't seem to have had any horrible experiences. Maurice, her father, moved them to "the poor provincial town" where Belle feels disgust and irritation at her neighbors because she is seen as "the oddball" for not chasing around and flirting with guys, and wanting to read instead. Belle doesn't hit adversity until Maurice gets himself lost and jailed by the local Beast. And then Belle offers her freedom for her father's life. Right up until this half of Belle's existence ( beast capture) she hasn't had anybody abuse her, nor restrict her, and the societal expectations in her village she willingly defies without much blow-back ( whereas in Mulan's case it brought shame). I don't see Belle being watched 24/7 by Maurice, and Belle only gets the 24/7 treatment when she ends up surrendering her freedom to the abusive beast. Belle copes by reading everything in the local bookstore, and singing about her favorite book. Belle is just lonely, like Aurora, and they both are outsiders occupying time until they eventually find the life they are seeking. Belle's childhood was not horrible in any way. It was somewhat sad, actually, because of the death of a parent, but that death did not translate into abuse from Maurice, as did happen in Cinderella's case, in Snow's case, and in Ariel's case.

Pocahontas

Pocahontas goes "wherever the wind takes her." Powhatan seems like he has not decided to restrict Pocahontas at all. Powhatan has given Poca complete freedom to speak her mind. Powhatan respects Poca enough. He is extremely gentle when asking her to assume her mantle as the next leader of her people. Poca takes a while to figure out who she is, but her father doesn't stop her from finding her own path. Powhatan is not monitoring Pocahontas 24/7, reducing his daughter to a slave, or demanding that she marry Kocoum right away. He doesn't want war, but he does want to see that there is safety for his daughter, his tribe, and peace for his land. He's an example of a good dad.


Tiana

Tiana wins this weird childhood countdown. Tiana has the best childhood Disney has crafted in a long time. Maybe, it's the best childhood since Bambi (before Bambi's mother died). I don't ever see Tiana's parents scolding her, restricting her movements, or denying her the things she loves to do (cooking). Tiana's dad is exceptional. He is so engaging, so humorous, so instantly likeable that it physically hurts me when Disney yanks him out of the picture. :( The only damper on Tiana's life is the death of her dad and his dream. The Segregation of Blacks in the South of 1920s New Orleans, Louisiana is a further backdrop to Tiana's personal pain. Tiana's father dies when she is sixteen ( I'm guessing? Because Tiana looks like she is 19 in the movie or something, same age as Cinderella). The plot kicks in afterward, and Tiana becomes a grieving and very angry adult. But Tia's dad and mom never mistreated her, and she has insanely good memories of her family life.



This is my deduction from seeing each princess’s situation in their movies, and watching each one cope with the situation into which they were born. Though I have experienced emotional trauma myself, I don't think each princess really had it that easy. I don’t think every princess had the worst childhood, either. Likewise, I don’t think every princess had the best childhood. Some childhoods were right smack dab in the middle and isolating, but these—in my view-- sidestepped being marked by episodes of outright punishment, volatility, and slavery.

Leave thoughts below. Thanks. And until next time...
Thank you so much to everybody who voted & commented on each countdown pick. Credit to princesslullaby, for the idea of putting comments in articles. I hope you enjoy reading!


10.Snow White
This sweet, refined, adorable little girl might be a joy to watch on-screen, but might've been lacking a bit in the smart department. First of all, she goes into some little house that she doesn't even know who's it is, and sleeps on their bed! Really? What if they all had malaria or something? Then, even though the dwarves warned her PLENTY of times, she lets in an old, creepy lady into her house....
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posted by Harmony97
THIS IS GONNA BE SENSATIONAL TO READ!
    ~Corrie

14. Cinderella

To me, Cinderella isn’t the best princess. I’m not sure what it is, but something about her just rubs me the wrong way. I’m not sure if it’s her voice, her personality, or her naivety, but I just can’t stand her. She doesn’t try very hard to get Prince Charming, she does try just not very hard, she doesn’t even tell him her name! How wrong is that? She dances with the dude all night and doesn’t even tell him anything about herself, to me, that’s just wrong!


13. Megara

Again, this whole truth...
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posted by Princess_Ella
Hi I am new to Fanpop, and I saw that lots of people had done this type of article so I decided to give it a try. Here is a list of my top 10 favorite Disney Princess eyes. Please enjoy, and comment because this is my first article.

10. Snow White

Her eyes are so small and round, that they just don't look like she could possibly have peripheral vision. And the color is quite dull. They just aren't stunning and they have no depth to them.
I do like Snow White, but she has no depth, especially in her eyes.There is nothing there, just a blank stare.
I do like Snow White, but she has no depth, especially in her eyes.There is nothing there, just a blank stare.

9. Pocahontas

They are too small, but they...
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Random Picture~~!
Random Picture~~!
My 8th Article~! I love writing these~! I LOVE hair~! I have a small obsession with it. So here goes~! p.s. I have decided to put both of Rapunzels Hair styles together.











10. Tiana

Well her hair does not move. && I know they had to make it that way but they could have made it in a more flattering style. I love Tiana && I think she is very pretty but I really dont like her hair.

Tiana
Tiana



9. Mulan

Mulans hair looks very thin. && It is also very straight. I like a little wave,curl,or Body in hair. && Mulans has none of that. It is just plain.

Mulan
Mulan


8.Cinderella...
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Let me start off by saying that there is no Disney Princess I truly dislike. I think it’s simply impossible for me to dislike anything Disney. In a way that made this list especially hard to do because I felt bad each time I placed a Princess on the list. I love them all, with perhaps the exception of the last lady on my list, and even her I don’t completely dislike. She’s last simply because she’s the only one who managed to get me irritated at some point, something which no other princess has managed. I couldn’t find it in my heart to be irritated at any of them. But more on that...
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In light of the actual “fairy tale trend” in TV and movie, I recently realized how much the Disney movies have “taken over” the fairy tales they are based on, and how few people actually know the story they are based on. Because of this, I’ll compare the Disney-Version with the source text, and I’ll recommend a few other adaptations I really like. I’ll only take a look at the fairy tales – meaning I’ll skip Pocahontas and Mulan, since they are not part of my culture. Perhaps someone who grew up with those stories is ready to do a small piece about them?

Considering that...
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Hey Fanpop fans!
This is my third article, and it is about who is favorite Disney Prince in the Disney Princess club. I am sorry if I have errors in grammar. English was my second language, so I don't very good. I hope that you enjoy it and thank you for the people who help me with the picks!

10. Prince Charming
Prince Charming
Prince Charming


Prince Charming, the second prince who married Cinderella is in the last place.Fans say that he is so boring, that we don't know him a lot. People see him as lazy, because he didn't look for Cinderella, so he send servants. In my opinion, I love him, so kind, handsome....
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posted by princesslullaby
This article was written collectively by: Princesslullaby, Cromulanfav, & JonnaSe


9.Cinderella
Cinderella's actions would make Jasmine very angry. Jasmine wouldn't like how passive she is, and how she's dreamy and wishes for more but doesn't do anything about it. Jasmine also wouldn't understand or like how Cinderella never stands up to her stepfamily in a forceful or aggressive way, or never tells them off. She would find it very insulting to her strength as a woman.

8.Aurora
Jasmine would like Aurora's playful, flirty personality, and how she acts hard to get with Phillip. But...
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Here is the first article for the Best Disney song countdown, showing the songs in 79st-68st place.


79. 'Gonna take you there'- The Princess and the Frog.

Unsurprising that a song that is kind of unimportant and not really needed in the movie ,which may be one of the reasons, comes in last place (which imo it didn't really deserve) and also the fact that it may not be as loved as some of the other, better known Disney songs probably helped it to leave.

'I seriously hate this song'-fhghu

'this song was not even needed'-BB2010

'It´s not nearly as good as some of the others...'-alexon31




78. 'One...
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And yes, I’m still on the topic of dubbing. I’m pleased to say that at least “Sleeping Beauty” escaped the policy of redubbing in Germany. “Cinderella” has mostly still the original dub, but for the DVD release some “marketing genius” decided that they had to change the opening scene. Who cares about the back story of Cinderella, let’s explain the audience that “Cinderella” is the American version of “Aschenputtel”. The explanation is not even correct, since the movie is based on the French version of the fairy-tale, which is much different from the German one. And...
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posted by ppgbelle4
Well, this article is VERY overdue by now...I've written my favorite princess article when I first joined, but not this one. So yes, time to fix that once and for all! I actually like all of the princes listed here, and they were very hard to rank. Anyway, enjoy reading! Thank you, CuteDiana, for making the pictures!

10. Charming



Okay, okay. I know this is a typical placement for him, but I just feel neutral about him. I can't use the excuse for lack of screen time, because, well...you'll see why later. I also can't say he lacks a personality, because he does have a personality. When he...
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posted by faya27
Chapter 11

Despite Ariel's assurance, Melody still hated the idea of not having a mother. Why doesn't she have a mother? How come other kids have two parents while she has one? Mind you, not that she doesn't like her dad-no she loves him! Melody still yearns for someone who will read stories to her and kiss daddy when he comes home.

"You don't know what happened to your mother?" Ariel asked.

Melody shook her head. "No, I don't know what happened to her."

Ariel didn't press anymore to the subject. Melody must have a been a baby when a tragedy struck her mother. Silence filled the whole room, only...
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It gave her a sense of peace that she so often longed for.
It gave her a sense of peace that she so often longed for.
PART 1

Her hair blew with the wind and danced with the leaves that flew through her hair so gracefully. She loved the feeling of the wind blowing against her face. It gave her a sense of peace that she so often longed for. She stood at the top of the cliff, looking at the water below. The waves crashed upon the shore and she was very tempted to dive into the river below.
    She turned her head when she heard the small pitter patter of footsteps and she knew at once that it was Meeko, her mischievous raccoon friend. Meeko ran up a tree that stood by Pocahontas, so he could...
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Congratulations KataraLover! You definitely deserve to be fan of the Month for May, because you have contributed so much on this spot!

So here is the interview with KataraLover, the fan of the month for May! ☺




1. How long have you been active on this site?

Almost two years starting november.


2. What was one of the nicest compliments or comments you’ve gotten for your contributions to this spot?

I'd have to say when pulgaenana complimented me and commented on my article telling how the Scamp's Adventure is better than Lady and The Tramp. I just love it when people leave comments on my articles...
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posted by Malena22
Me at the Little Mermaid broadway show in 2008!
Me at the Little Mermaid broadway show in 2008!
First Name: My name is Maria-Elena, but my friends call me Malena for short.

Country of Origin: I am born and raised in the USA, but my family is orignally from Greece.

Favorite Disney Movie: My favorite disney princess movie is Sleeping Beauty, but my favorite Disney movie is Ratatouille.

Hobbies: I like reading, dancing(just for fun), singing along to my favorite songs, playing with my dog, Snoopy and I LOVE SWIMMING!

Education: I am a sophmore in high school. Just 2 more years and I'm outta that place for good! lol

Music I like: I like anything besides hard rock and metal. I do like country,...
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posted by mergirl13
my all-time favorite movie :)
my all-time favorite movie :)
I saw that other fans were doing this, so I might as well try it.




First Name: Amber

Country of Origin: Florida, USA

Favorite Disney Movie: Beauty and the Beast- I have costumes, and a huge collection of Beauty and the Beast stuff in my room

Hobbies: acting, drawing, writing stories, listening to music, singing, collecting Disney stuff

Education: college

Music I like: music from Disney movies

Movies (besides Disney movies) that I like: Back to the Future, Shrek, the Prince of Egypt, Kung Fu Panda, the Mummy

Books I read: I don’t really read much, only when I need to

Something quirky about...
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posted by Candy77019
Today, I met up with Ariel, one of the seven princesses of Atlantica, and also the lucky wife of Prince Eric. I was lucky enough to get an interview with her, and nice enough to share it with you guys! (Not really, just go along with it XD)

We decide to talk over coffee in Peaberry--my favorite coffee shop.

Me: *sipping coffee* So Ariel, how did it feel living in a home with several other siblings?

Ariel: Well, it was really annoying because I didn't get as much privacy, but I love my sisters all the same.

Me: I've heard a lot about you, and it says here that you have a 12-year old daughter named...
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Alright, Tangled came out and I really want Rapunzal and Eugene in here (I like calling him Eugene better than Flynn), so I had to work them in there somehow, so here's what I came up with. Enjoy.

Extension of Chapter 3 Part 1:

The princes, lead by Kapo, venture further into the darkness, knowing nothing of what lies ahead. Without warning, Kapo stopped walking. The princes eventually surrounded him, knowing he was concentrating on something.
"...something's coming." Kapo finally said. Some of the men became alarmed, although a few remained sceptackle. Because of the lack of action and trecherous...
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A/N#1: Chapter 4 is actually something I have been waiting to write for awhile now. Last chapter for tonight.


Chapter 4:


My footsteps were light like a deer's as I hid in shadows and behind
trees.
It was easy slipping through the fence, the guards wern't the most
observant men. But still the thoughts of Natives laurking around waiting
for me to step out with bows and arrows truthfully frightened me.
I managed to grab a sword before I left from a tool shed where I would
return it in the morning, but for now it rested in its case on my hip
swishing as I walked along.
The forest was lush and green even...
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A/N#1: So I watched "Pocahontas" today and I had forgotten how great of a movie it was, it's now my second favorite
disney movie. I have not watched the second...personally...I probably never will...soooo I'm just writing this on what
knowledge I have of the tale and if something is incorrect...or if there was a character death I'm not aware of...then they
are alive in my story...so yeah. This is just a chapter...I want to know how this will be received, but dont worry...in this
story our FAVORITE "Pocahontas" couple will be together. Okay! Enjoy!


Chapter 1:

My raven black hair whipped in the salty...
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