stumbleupstumbleon:

Disney’s latest t-shirt designs cause us to re-evaluate the way we see, interpret, and value female characters in mainstream media.

I’ve been thinking about this for a long time (read: basically my whole life), and it just keeps getting worse. I recommend you read the whole article and take a minute to think about it before you shrug it off (or reblog this with “OMG WHATEVER DISNEY IS SO AWESOME PRINCESSES HAVE GIRL POWER” etc.).

As I read it, I realized that I couldn’t think of any other adjectives to accurately add dimension to Minnie Mouse. I don’t know if she’s smart, or funny, or talented. I can’t even remember. All I can remember is that bow on her head. And that made me more terrified than anything they put on that shirt.

I get that Mickey and Minnie and Goofy et al. are iconic characters, but unless they’re going to get a personality overhaul, they’re a poor representation of progress. Focus needs to shift towards their opportunities to do new characters right, and away from their past decisions. It’s time for them to move on.