Stereotypes In Fairy Tales

In today’s society women have made major gains in terms of their position in society moving closer and closer to equality by the passing decade. Theoretically, women are no longer seen simply for their looks and are encouraged to explore many intellectual and career paths. However, of the tales that have survived the ages, few lack emphasis on superficial appearance, specifically women’s looks and attractiveness. Liz Grauerholz, a professor of sociology at Purdue University strengthens the opponents claim by stating:

Women today- despite increasing independence for many- still tend to value beauty and appearance. Why is it that attractive women and men are socially rewarded more than unattractive people? From early childhood, girls are read

Ultimately there are numerous positive and negative effects of fairy tales on the child development. Fairy tales are intricately intertwined in our society and thus ridding our society of them completely is virtually impossible. Instead, the fairy tales need to be adapted greatly. The gender stereotypes that show children that women exist for their attractiveness, of which is the most important characteristic and without it an individual is inferior, and the fact that women exist to perform domestic duties need to be trimmed. We are not shielding our children from anything by trimming this. Instead we are updating our fairy tales to that of societal beliefs. Women are valuable for their contributions to society intellectually, socially, etc. Next, the tales need to find a more effective and better way of instilling morals into children. Scarring someone into submission is something of an authoritarian or totalitarian society neither of which are ones that a child needs to develop in. Fairy tales have many positive effects and these effects can be strengthened by adapting our society’s tales. Without adaptation fairy tales will continue to instill false senses of reality into our children and thus without significant revision, the overall effects of fairy tales are more detrimental to our youth than beneficial and their role in child development should be much more limited. With notable alteration, fairy tales should continue to play a major role in childhood as a positive nightcap to instill moral and values into society’s