MovieChat Forums > Sleeping Beauty (1959) Discussion > To those who jump on the 'damsel in disr...

To those who jump on the 'damsel in disress' bandwagon


First of all, why is it such an issue that Aurora doesn't play a huge role in the progression of the story?

Second of all, Aurora is shunned for being 'weak' because of her inability to act to further the story. I think it's safe to assume that these criticisms come from self-proclaimed feminists. It is also a feminist cause to shun 'victim-blaming', i.e claiming that a girl/woman who becomes intoxicated to the point of unconsciousness, removing her own will, plays a role in any rape that may occur during this state. Yet, Aurora had her will forcibly taken from her and she is labeled with all sorts of negative adjectives from this same group. Why is this blatant victim-blaming permitted with Disney characters? Cinderella is on the receiving end of this double standard as well. She's called 'weak' because she remained under the abusive rule of her stepmother and stepsisters for such a long time. Yet if anyone questions why an actual victim of abuse and/or kidnapping remained so long in the situation, the 'victim-blaming' defense is played yet again. Which is it? Should victims be shunned as weak when they don't act to protect their best interests, or is blaming the victim taboo? Make up your minds.

reply

I don't even care about this argument, but are you kidding me with this thread? Blaming a rape victim for the assault someone else carried out on them is not even sort of comparable to someone criticizing what they see as a weak character in a work of fiction.

First of all, no one is "blaming" Aurora for being a weak character. Character's don't have agency. They're blaming the writers for a character that exists only to be saved by other characters. Whether you agree with that contention or not, you should at least accurately respond to the criticisms rather than inventing strawman arguments to make your job easier.

You can't compare victim blaming, something that happens in real life to real people, to the reaction that people have to cartoon characters based on fairytale archetypes. That is insane. There is no victim in your scenario. It can't possibly be "victim blaming" if no victim is being blamed for the crimes perpetrated on them. That's just regular blame, and you can't just pretend that they are at all equal.

reply

Audience member: Cinderella is a fool for not leaving sooner. She just let her stepfamily abuse her!

They are blaming the victim of abuse for being abused. Ergo, they are victim blaming.

I drink coffee FOR BREAKFAST.

reply