Midterm Blog #2: Sophia The Not-So First

The new children’s show “Sofia The First” appears, on the surface, to be a new twist on the Cinderella story. Her mother falls in love with the king and they are whisked from peasantry into a life of luxury, where our female protagonist, Sofia, must learn how to be a princess while adapting to her new life with her step-father and siblings. But somehow, Disney failed to break the typical facets of every other princess story ever put to film.

Sofia, coming from a simple, working life, takes a bit of adjusting to having her own team of servants, a closet full of anything she could ever dream of, and a whole castle to call home. But why must she have to adapt to this? Why does royality and power have to equal wealth? Rather than having to adjust to being rich, why cant her new family adapt a more normal routine and reasonable lifestyle? Does power and being a strong figure have to translate to luxury and excess?

Sofia’s new sister, Amber, is exactly the type of princess-now-stepsister you’d expect her to be. She’s blonde, beautiful, prim, and the ultimate primadonna.  Upon meeting Sofia, she ensues to bullying her and making sure she doesn’t fit in. Yet despite this, Disney does not villianize Amber.  In the end she always gets what she wants, and everyone caters to her needs and her wants. Sophia always has to make the first move with Amber, and a quick apology usually suffices. Why should Sofia be a victim to Ambers need to be the center of attention? And why must Amber be concerened about her appearance and her coveted tiara- aren’t there occasionally more important things while growing up?

Prince James, Sofia’s new brother, is perfectly kind to her, and even gives her advice on how to handle her new princessness a time or two. Howver, he is every bit the stereotypical prince as Amber the princess. He is athletic, popular, well respected, and has a fan base of girls in a Justin Bieber fashion. When Amber isn’t taking the attention away from Sofia, James is accidentally taking it. And although there is no harm done with James, there is harm done to the idea this instills in toddlers about what a prince or “dream” man is. He’s blonde, flawless, crafty, and good at anything outdoors or with a ball according to Disney. Why is this the model for what the fantasy crush is?

What once were called “blended families” are now the new normal, but I can’t help but think that Sofia the First threatens this progression in ideas of acceptance, change in family situations, and relationship building in its toddler audience. Sofia accepts the hate and animosity from her new sister, Princess Amber, and must live under the shadow of her kind but exceptional-in-all-ways brother, Prince James, all while navigating princess-ship and adapting to a life of luxury, and Disney does all this while perpetuating stereotypes of manliness, femininity, and economic status.