Maleficent Breaking Gender Stereotype in the Sleeping Beauty

In this world, people know that humans are divided by two essential gender, they are women and men. Thus, since many years ago, in our society often to distinguish the role about men and women. Then it results a gender stereotype in the society. In addition, when they, both women and men, choose to get married, the society has common perspective to distinguish the role of women and men clearly due to the stereotype itself. For example that women are not strong and not independent. But in the Disney’s movie Sleeping Beauty, a woman character named Maleficent breaks the gender stereotype that seems common in the society. This movie tells a story about a princess called Aurora who is cursed and only Aurora’s first true love kiss that can rescue her, She is cursed by an evil fairy called Maleficent. Thus, this essay is made to discuss how Maleficent breaks gender stereotype in the Sleeping Beauty movie.

According to United Nation Human Rights in 2014,

"A gender stereotype is a generalised view or preconception about attributes, or characteristics that are or ought to be possessed by women and men or the roles that are or should be performed by men and women. Gender stereotypes can be both positive and negative for example, “women are nurturing” or “women are weak”. A stereotype is harmful when it limits women’s or men’s capacity to develop their personal abilities, pursue their professional careers and make choices about their lives and life plans. Both hostile/negative or seemingly benign stereotypes can be harmful. It is for example based on the stereotype that women are more nurturing that child rearing responsibilities often fall exclusively on them".(United Nation Human Rights, 2014)

            The character of Maleficent breaks the common gender stereotype through her strong and independent characters. Maleficent’s independent character can be seen from her scenes below,

Maleficent       : “Well, quite a glittering assemblage, King Stefan. Royalty, nobility, the gentry, and, how quaint, even the rebel.”

[Merryweather starts angrily starts to fly towards Maleficent but is held back by Flora]

Merryweather  : “I really felt quite distressed of not receiving an invitation.”

Merryweather  : “You weren't wanted!”

Maleficent       : “Not wa...? Oh dear, what an awkward situation. I had hoped it was merely due to some oversight. Well, in that event I'd best be on my way.”

Queen              : “And you're not offended, your excellency?”

Maleficent       : “Why no, your majesty. And to show I bear no ill will, I, too, shall bestow a gift on the child.”

[The fairies protect the cradle]

Maleficent       : “Listen well, all of you! The princess shall indeed grow in grace and beauty, beloved by all who know her. But, before the sun sets on her sixteenth birthday, she shall prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die. “

Then also Maleficent’s Strong character can be seen from her utterance below,

Maleficent       : “You poor simple fools. Thinking you could defeat me, me, the mistress of all evil. Well, here's your precious princess.”

In the Disney's movie Sleeping Beauty, the female evil fairy named Maleficent breaks the common gender stereotype of women. As according to United Nation Human Rights, Gender stereotype is a common perspective about women's and men's character or role that should be had as women and men, for example, a stereotype that women are not independent and not strong, and men should be independent and strong.  Maleficent breaks this stereotype through when the birth celebration of Princess Aurora, all people were invited, except Maleficent. But finally she came by herself to the party and got mad. Then she decided to give the princess a gift and ended with cursed Princess. Maleficent came by herself showed that she is independent. In this movie, Maleficent is an evil fairy who live in a forbidden mountain with her servants, then it means that she is a chief there and she is independent. So, Maleficent breaks the first gender stereotype of women are not independent. Then, Maleficent also breaks a gender stereotype of women are not strong. In this movie, we can see the scene when Maleficent said to the three good fairies that they can't defeat her, because she was the mistress of evil. This scene showed that Maleficent is a strong woman. So, the character of Maleficent breaks the gender stereotype of women are weak. The stereotype like these cannot be a guidance to determine where humans belongs to through their gender. A gender stereotype can be dangerous when it can curb people to get their dreams and careers in their life.

In conclusion, the Disney’s Sleeping Beauty movie tells about a princess Aurora who is cursed and only her first true love kiss that can rescue her, she is cursed by an evil fairy called Maleficent who breaks the gender stereotype of women. In simply way, gender stereotype is common perspective about characters and roles that should be had by women or men. A gender stereotype can be dangerous when it can curb people to get their dreams and careers in their life. This essay hope that everybody can find and create themselves without being limited by gender stereotype, especially women.

Reference

United Nation Human Right. “Gender Stereotypes and Stereotyping and Women’s Rights.” 2014.