The Disney movie The Little Mermaid came out in 1989. I was Elsa Maria's age, and the direct target audience for the film. I've been watching it (a lot) through grown up eyes, and I have some serious gripes. The film sends horrible messages, and frankly, I'm surprised that it took me so long to realize.
1. Materialism much, fish lady?
Ariel is so obsessed with humans that she is basically a hoarder. Instead of fulfilling her obligations and spending time with other mermaids, she hangs out at shady shipwrecks with a weird side-kick fish whose whole point in life is to agree with her.
2. Interspecies relationships are totally cool
I've seen a lot of fish in my time. I can imagine what it is like to give a hug to a fish that's my size....it's squishy, scaly, slimy, and doesn't smell very nice. We're not even to get into how fish reproduce, let's just all agree that it's not sexy at all. And think about it. Mermaids would not be quite so appealing in reverse.
3. I wanna know what love is
Ariel falls "in love" with Prince Eric after creepily watching him dance a with his dog. Then she saves his life (bravo, Ariel) and is falls so madly "in love" that it leads her to make some really really poor choices (see list below).
4. Fucked up priorities
As she is so desperately "in love" with the man she has never spoken to, Ariel asks a sketch octopus lady (witch) to make her a human. As part of the deal, Ariel has to "get the prince to kiss her" within three days, or her soul will forever belong to the witch. If she can accomplish the monumental, near impossible task of getting a horny single dude to kiss her (comm'on girl, it's not that hard....Hitler had a girlfriend, someone is bound to like you!) then she will be a human permanently. She thinks that's just dandy. She agrees to, best scenario: leave her home and never see her family ever again for someone she has never spoken with or worst scenario: turn into a creepy kelp creature and live in the witch's cave. Ariel is a total dingbat.
5. Giving up your voice
As if that choice wasn't already irresponsible enough, Ariel has to literally give up her voice as part of the deal she makes with the witch. So, ladies. Get a man to fall "in love" with you, and kiss you within three days, and you have no words to say to him. It's the pinnacle of objectification. She looses her voice, her story, her personality, and (as far as I can tell, her only redeeming talent) her ability to sing.
6. "Kiss the girl"in a rape-culture context
I want to know why Ariel didn't just kiss Eric. After all, her life is literally on the line! Instead she waits day after day for this tofu-flavored prince dude to make the first move. Then all her sea creature friends get a bit desperate (can't blame em, that girl is a total train wreck!) and sing a lovey-dovey song that has to do with "it don't take a word, not a single word, go on and kiss the girl!" Um, actually, it does take a word. Communication is the cornerstone of healthy relationships. And seriously? How hard is it for you to say, "I'd really like to kiss you. Is that okay? And then get a "yes" (or in Ariel's case, a vigorous nod). Isn't consent fun, kids?
7. Ursula is the best role model in the film
While the other characters in the film are vacuous and make a series of horrible choices, Ursula the sea witch is smart, powerful, talented, and by a lot of standards, successful. What she wants more then anything is to control the ocean. She wants to overthrow the tyrant king and take control for herself. Ursula is a revolutionary. And she can do magic, which allows her to manipulate the stupid vain mer-people who are looking for fast fixes to their problems. And her song is the best in the movie.
