The Cinderella fairy tale revolves around the role of femininity. Cinderella is portrayed as a delicate and feminine character who exemplifies stereotypically feminine traits like grace, beauty, and obedience. These characteristics contrast those of her stepsisters, who are portrayed as less attractive and feminine. Cinderella’s beauty and clothing also serve to emphasize her femininity. She is depicted as donning a lovely gown and glass slippers, highlighting her beauty and grace. As a result, her journey from a servant girl to a princess is linked to a change into a more feminine and appealing shape.
It’s crucial to remember that the Cinderella tale also questions some conventional ideas about gender. Although Cinderella is initially represented as submissive and passive, she later demonstrates strength and fortitude in the face of difficulty. Through her generosity, bravery, and tenacity, she can put up with the mistreatment from her stepfamily and ultimately defeat them. The narrative also implies that women can effect change because Cinderella’s deeds finally result in her happy ending. By going to the ball, she takes charge of her fate, and the prince is won over by her charm and boldness. By demonstrating that women may be agents of change in their own lives and exhibit a variety of attributes, the Cinderella fairy tale questions and subverts some of the traditional ideals of femininity while yet relying on them.
A common example of how femininity is portrayed in fairy tales is the tale of Cinderella. Cinderella is portrayed in the story as a lovely and generous young woman who experiences mistreatment from her stepfamily but ultimately achieves her happily-ever-after with the aid of her fairy godmother. Cinderella’s elegance and beauty are one-way femininity is incorporated into the narrative. In a patriarchal society that favors conventional ideas of femininity, she is regarded as having delicate features and an exquisite disposition, which is highly admired. She distinguishes herself from her stepsisters, portrayed as less appealing and less desirable, thanks to her beauty and grace.
The story also makes use of femininity through Cinderella’s submission and obedience. Cinderella continues to be submissive and obedient despite the abuse she receives from her stepfamily and accepts her position as a servant. The image of women as docile and submissive supports traditional gender stereotypes. The narrative also demonstrates how Cinderella overcame her challenging circumstances and ultimately won the prince’s heart with her goodness, inner strength, and tenacity. This component of the story might be considered a subversion of conventional gender norms because it implies that women can have traits like strength and bravery that are usually associated with men. Thus, even if Cinderella’s tale does draw on conventional ideas of femininity, it also presents a more nuanced and complex picture of women that breaks down some of these preconceptions.
The use of femininity in the Cinderella story is significant because it can reflect and support cultural norms around gender roles and stereotypes. The story reinforces the notion that women should exhibit these qualities to be attractive and successful by depicting Cinderella as a delicate and feminine heroine (Perrault and Charles, 23). It’s also crucial to remember that the Cinderella fairy tale can be used as a stage to question and defy some of these conventional gender stereotypes. For instance, Cinderella finally demonstrates courage and resilience in the face of hardship, despite her early portrayal as weak and submissive. She possesses traits like kindness, bravery, and determination that are not typically associated with women but still allow her to assert herself.
Also, by demonstrating that women can effect change in their lives, the Cinderella fairy tale can help empower women. Cinderella’s deeds, like going to the ball and winning the prince’s heart, show that women may actively participate in determining their own fates. Ultimately, it can be said that how femininity is used in the Cinderella story both challenges and reflects conventional gender roles and stereotypes. While the plot may rely on some stereotypical notions of femininity, it also offers opportunity to challenge, subvert, and praise women’s strength and agency.
Work Cited
Perrault, Charles. Cinderella (the Original Fairy Tale with Classic Illustrations). 2015.
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