I’ve struggled with a long time on how to defend Jasmine. If I’m being honest, she’s probably my least favorite Disney Princess. I don’t have much sentimentality for as Aladdin was never my go-to childhood movie. My stereotypical feminine toddler self much preferred Disney movies that featured cats or ball gowns over movies about streetrats.
Jasmine also has the unique position of being the only Disney Princess whose movie is not really about her. Aladdin is, well, about Aladdin. I could say that hinders me from doing a proper analysis of her character, but I easily unearthed much out of Aurora’s character when she only speaks 18 lines – and her movie is supposed to be about her!
Jasmine ranked so low in my personal ratings on the grounds that she doesn’t do anything. Maybe this is ironic coming from someone who passionately defended the “do-nothing” Princesses like Aurora and Snow White, but they do something. They walk the walk, whereas Jasmine just talks the talk. She’s credited for being the “first” Disney Princess to stand against arranged marriages to princes (Aurora was the first in actuality). Jasmine’s best-known quote is “I am NOT a prize to be won!” She just-so-happens into a conversation between the men, makes this declaration, and then promptly makes her dramatic exit. And in the end of the movie it doesn’t seem to be Jasmine herself who convinces the sultan to change the laws about arranged marriages, but Aladdin. She whines and yells a lot about what she wants – but she doesn’t do anything.
So how could I write an article defending her to support my argument that Disney Princesses are worthy feminist role models if I didn’t really believe it myself?
In summer of 2019, I dragged my boyfriend to a showing of the live action Aladdin remake. Naomi Scott made me finally fall in love with Jasmine. This version of Jasmine added depth to her character that I felt was lacking. Her character literally and metaphorically became 3D. Jasmine ruminates on how her expected role in society is an invisible one, even though she’s royalty. “I won’t be silenced, you can’t keep me quiet” she belts, echoing animated Jasmine. But this Jasmine doesn’t just sing a pretty song about wanting to take charge of her future – she actually does it. Live action Jasmine talks about her role model – her mother. Because of Jasmine’s female role model, she studied her kingdom’s history and laws, some of which her mother created. And when the time came – Jasmine actually did something. She stepped up and delegated fighting kingdoms, using her political knowledge to keep peace.. She is smart, resourceful, and takes note from the great women of the past to create a better future for everyone. If that’s not the definition of a Princess and a feminist role model, I don’t know what is!
The appeal of the princess life for some may be the pretty gowns and the big castle and the handsome princes, but being a princess is so much more than that. Actual, real-life princesses are political leaders. They are educated in policies, in history, in law. They have natural people-smarts. They use their voice to advocate for the average citizen. They are badasses in their own right. Live-action Jasmine shows this side of being a Princess.
Perhaps the most interesting thing I find about animated Jasmine is how the characters around her exude toxic patriarchy. First, there’s Jafar – the obvious villain. He does not care about Jasmine at all. At first she is just an obstacle in his way to power. And then he decides he can use her as a way to gain power – after which he would discard her. If he finds any value in Jasmine at all, it’s in her beauty. At the end of the movie when he becomes the sultan, he forces Jasmine to wear what some consider a “sex slave” outfit, and he almost forces her to fall in love with him. I think most (sad reality that I can’t say all) would agree that treating women as disposable annoyances or valuing them only for sex is not okay.
The Sultan is on a different side of the toxic patriarchy spectrum. He does genuinely care for Jasmine, and wants her to be happy. But he wants her to be happy with the status quo. He doesn’t understand why she can’t just follow the law and do what every princess before her did (“Her mother was never this picky”). He doesn’t see that upholding the law “just because that’s how it is” isn’t a good reason. He sees how unhappy it makes Jasmine, but he refuses to change it. This is a point of view that too many people hold. Some believe that the status quo is good enough. The laws, practices and social norms we have now are not okay simply because they are the norm. And often times these people do not have empathy to realize how this affects others until they personally know someone in that situation. Jasmine is that person for the Sultan.
And as it turns out, I might have to amend my prior opinion that Jasmine doesn’t do anything. As Jerramy Fine writes in In Defense of the Princess, “From the very beginning, [Jasmine] makes it clear to us that being a princess does not guarantee happiness and shows that she is actually willing to give up her royal title if it means she can maintain some level of personal freedom”. The freedom to make decisions for herself is Jasmine’s ultimate goal and character motivation, but she is constantly hindered by the law, by her family, by power-hungry politicians. But she never shuts up. Even when she is devastated because she believes her marketplace crush is killed, she doesn’t back down from fighting for her freedom. Jafar and the Sultan may dismiss her opinions, but she won’t be silenced.
Fine also makes the point that “At the end of the movie, Jasmine actively choose Aladdin as her husband – not because of his power or wealth but because he appeals to her intelligence, curiosity, and sense of adventure”. And this is true. She makes sure to choose the man who sees her as a person, as an equal. Even though the Sultan changed the law because of his respect for Aladdin, and it’s obvious to the audience that Jasmine wants to marry Aladdin, I think it’s important that she actually declares “I choose you!” She actively chooses her own destiny. And that’s pretty badass of her.
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