Reflecting upon the Disney films I have viewed, I have realized that Putnam has a solid and substantial argument with examples of various characters to support her claim. Ariel, Pocahontas, Jasmine, and other leading female characters/princesses all have beautiful figures and soft facial features with long hair to accentuate their feminine appeal. Meanwhile, the villains do not possess these conventionally effeminate features, whether it be their bodies, faces, or voices.
An example Putnam provides in her essay is Ursula, who acts as a stark contrast to Ariel. Ursula's hefty body is not at all like Ariel's slim figure and her facial features are the opposite of delicate and feminine. I truly believe that without the red lipstick, Ursula's face would be ambiguous in terms of gender (not taking into account her body, just focusing on her face). While Ariel has a light, sing-song voice, Ursula's is deeper and less womanly. Moreover, Putnam cites a great example in Cinderella. The stepsisters are "flat-chested, appearing, in fact, square-bodied, with no difference in width between their chest and their waist" (152). Since an hourglass figure is the traditional body shape of beauty and associated with sex appeal, the two stepsisters are less feminine than Cinderella.
An example Putnam provides in her essay is Ursula, who acts as a stark contrast to Ariel. Ursula's hefty body is not at all like Ariel's slim figure and her facial features are the opposite of delicate and feminine. I truly believe that without the red lipstick, Ursula's face would be ambiguous in terms of gender (not taking into account her body, just focusing on her face). While Ariel has a light, sing-song voice, Ursula's is deeper and less womanly. Moreover, Putnam cites a great example in Cinderella. The stepsisters are "flat-chested, appearing, in fact, square-bodied, with no difference in width between their chest and their waist" (152). Since an hourglass figure is the traditional body shape of beauty and associated with sex appeal, the two stepsisters are less feminine than Cinderella.
However, there are some aspects of Putnam's piece that I disagree with. I am skeptical that depicting villains as transgendered people is influencing its viewers to think "it's okay to treat people who are different from the heterosexual norm as dangerous or disgusting" (159). I think this is a far-fetched claim because although it is true that I never found the villains to be attractive, I would not necessarily characterize all of them as "masculine". Nor have I found the villains to be deviating from the heterosexual norms and thus "disgusting". For example, Cruella de Vil is slim with wide hips (hourglass shape) and she does not appear masculine. Rather, she is just unappealing to look at due to her highly arched brows and wide cheekbones, which are not necessarily "masculine" features.
However, despite a few exaggerated claims, Putnam's article was one of my favorites to read.
However, despite a few exaggerated claims, Putnam's article was one of my favorites to read.
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