Ariel the Little Mermaid: Tramp or Typical Teen?

I attended the blogsavannah unconference yesterday and expected to learn a lot about blogging, why people blog, how to use your blog for business, the importance of "rss feeds" and who "technorati" is... and I did learn some of these things; however, what has stayed on my mind the most from yesterday's unconference and conversations is Walt Disney's The Little Mermaid. The movie my children will be quick to tell you is hands down their mom's favorite Disney animated movie of all time. I love the songs, Flounder, Sebastian, even Ursula is entertaining to me. But yesterday in one of the breakout sessions about mommy bloggers, a woman who is raising four daughters stated that she has banned this movie and all it's accessories from her house. She does not allow her girls to even hum a tune from the movie. Why? My most favorite animated movie? But why? Because she explained that her girls do not need a female role model who runs around half naked, gives up her home, family, singing talents, and potential for "the Prince". The Prince who she doesn't know ... the Prince who appears a good bit older than she is ... the Prince who she is suppose to convince in three days... using her "body language" to kiss her so she can reclaim her voice ... quite literally her voice. I listened to this very accomplished mother of four daughters and I heard the point she was making. It was an angle of my favorite Disney movie that I had not considered. I have been thinking about the points she made and even though I am not going to run home and throw out the VHS tape we have watched over and over of The Little Mermaid, I did think about what kinds of women my girls will grow to be with some of these influences and angles that I don't consider. Don't get me wrong, I have my standards about what my children can and cannot watch, listen to, have as toys ... for example we don't allow any toy in the house with the name "Bratz" on it. I don't think I need to explain that one. My girls don't watch tv without me there so I know what they are watching and I can monitor when to turn the channel or turn the tv off. Parenting has taught me a great deal about perception and influences. I have a lot of respect for this mother of four who is making bold decisions for her daughters to teach them to be strong, independent, educated and accomplished individuals. I have learned to not jump to defend my position but instead listen to other moms and ruminate on their view points. So I have thought about this movie a great deal and here is what my view point of the movie is: Ariel is 16 and doesn't listen to her dad or the people she loves (does that sound typical of a 16 year old?) Ariel makes a deal with the sea witch in the movie who by the way is the only character encouraging her to "use her body language" to get the man. Teachable moment here ... consequences of who you listen to can impact your future. Ariel's motivation to get on land isn't the Prince alone ... she wants to dance, walk in the streets, and experience life as a human. She dreamt of life as a human long before she met the prince. He just happened to be another motivator for her. Is that typical of a 16 year old girl, to obsess about a dream life very different from her own? I think so. Ariel doesn't calmly go into the decision to sign away her voice to the sea witch ... she is angry and hurt by the rash behaviors of her father when he destroyed her grotto filled with years of her dreams of human life. Again, a teachable moment for my children... don't run off hot headed and make choices that could endanger your life or that of another human being.

I respect what was said by this admirable mother of four girls and I respect her decision to keep certain things out of her home. I would prefer parents take a strong interest in the potential influences on their children rather than set no standards. But for me, this is not one of the movies I will keep my girls from watching ... this movie like every other we watch together offers many teachable moments for us and gives my daughters a view point of irrational teenage behavior and consequences of making deals with the devil. And ... oh yeah, it is my favorite Disney animated movie to date!