For the better part of my childhood, fairy tales have always represented past, current, and future WEIRDO cultural norms and values. These cultural norms and values have always been reflected in centuries old tales such as Cinderella, Snow White, and the Little Mermaid which emphasizes overt femininity and submissiveness, traditional white male savior roles, and romanticizing ‘purity’ among women. 

         However, in the past ten years, we see a shift in modern cultural norms and values that shy away from overt femininity and submissiveness from women in fairy tales to women who are defiant, intelligent, and brave. More importantly, they reject traditional white male savior themes, and focus on the value of independence, resilience, and loving one’s self. Fairytales: The Princess and The Frog, Tangle, Moana, Frozen, Shrek, and Mulan embody these cultural norms and values, and new age progression towards feminism.

         More importantly, these fairy tales, specifically, Frozen, defy gender and cultural norms by showing egalitarian roles from the two main women protagonists to young audiences. For instance, Anna teaches younger children (little girls) that a woman is not defined by her love life regardless if she is rejected harshly. In fact, women do not need a male savior to reach to their goals and potential, as well as find the meaning of true love (Anna finds true love through her relationship with her friends and sister). 

         Even more, these characters in modern non-traditional fairy tales have positively impacted me as well. Since, I am a 90’s child, my first positive influence from a ‘fairy tale’ was the character Fiona in the movie Shrek. Fiona was a brave, quick witted, and fierce heroine who rejected traditional gender roles after being subjected to the main protagonist’s (Shrek) male chauvinistic ways. More importantly, Fiona is one of the first characters who embraces body-positivity in the early 2000’s by willingly accepting to become a ‘ogre’ who is portrayed as an overweight and beastly looking creature.