Cinderella is FAR too popular and influential of a story to contain a negative image towards women. In every version, Cinderella's step sisters are hideously ugly (though they may not appear entirely so in the Disney version). Should ugly be synonymous with evil? It essentially teaches little girls that beauty is all that matters, and that nobody should be content with the way they look except for the most beautiful girl in all of the land. Cinderella is NOT a positive role model for young girls, and yet so many little girls look up to Cinderella and other Disney princesses and strive to be just like them.
A Solution?
My sister is now in sixth grade. Two years ago, in an attempt to bond with her, we sat down together to watch a movie. I let her pick the movie and she chose 'Enchanted' and so I decided to humor her and watch it. It didn't mean much to me at the time, but thinking back to it now, the movie has a fantastic message.
It's the story of a stereotypical princess, but with a modern twist. Jazelle (the princess) is accidentally removed from her cartoon world and plopped into New York City, where she has to face the real world. Over the course of the film, she is transformed from the weak and scared girl in search of her prince that we are familiar with, into a girl who questions these values... Jazelle develops a sense of independence.
Why should every version of Cinderella be the exact same story that we all grew up with? Modern adaptions of Cinderella can change this negative portrayal of women. Writers should follow the example of Enchanted - it's so easy to change a basic story and turn it into something meaningful.
