Cinderella has always been a special interest of mine. I have consumed every adaptation of this story that I could get my hands on. And despite reading / watching this story in a hundred different formats, my favourite version continues to be Disney’s Cinderella (1950).

Not only is it an exceptionally well written account of a woman surviving abuse while retaining her individuality and sense of self but it is also a commentary on bodily autonomy.

Cinderella is a very simple story but the messaging within it is incredibly complex and well thought out.

Role Reversals Of Masculine And Feminine

Cinderella is very clearly a feminine character. But in saying that, it is also true that her step family’s exploitation of her unpaid labour robs her of her humanity, and thereby also her femininity.

Cinderella is not expected to marry or bear children. In fact, her only value comes from her capacity to provide labour. And when she shows any ounce of curiosity or femininity: making a dress of her own and wanting to go to the ball, she is violently assaulted. Her step sisters rip the dress off her body in an attempt to reestablish her as a servant rather than a member of the family.

On the other hand, while the Prince seems to have greater freedom, he’s also restricted in his movement. And nowhere is this more obvious than in Cinderella 3. He is expected to marry a woman and produce heirs. That is the only role he is allowed to have under his father’s rule.

And when he shows any doubts about his future wife, his father becomes verbally aggressive and forbids him from taking another step down the stairs. And while the moment may be comedic, it’s also telling that he feels so compelled to obey that he throws himself out of the window so as not to defy his father (in the literal sense).

Both Cinderella and The Prince have their bodily autonomy impinged on and are forced into obedience. And while Cinderella is restricted by the threat of physical violence or homelessness, she still retains her individuality. She remains snarky, intelligent and kind through it all. Whereas for The Prince, the restrictions are more psychological (and maybe a little physical, they did after all lock the gates to stop him leaving).

In essence, Cinderella is valued for her physical strength and capacity for labour whereas The Prince is only expected to marry and have children. He is allowed freedom only so far as he can still obey his father’s wishes.

Its Simplicity Is Its Strength

Cinderella follows a very simple storyline. But its messaging is surprisingly complex. And I think that’s why it stands the test of time and continues to be adapted even decades later.

The story explores what it means to be trapped under the rule of an abusive family. And while Cinderella is abused on a daily basis and continually dehumanised, she still manages to keep her dreams. And that is strength.

Cinderella isn’t a cookie cutter personality. She’s actually the original strong female character and the original strong Disney Princess. And to suggest that her femininity or her staying with her step family makes her weak is quite a sexist take.

As an abuse victim, she had to do what it takes to survive. And if appeasing her stepfamily kept a roof over her head and stopped the abuse intensifying, she is not weak for doing that. Unfortunately, it seems that society only accepts an abuse victim when she actively fights her abuser. But often, that can put the victim’s life in even greater danger.

Cinderella is surprisingly realistic and grounded despite being a fairytale. It explores what it means to be a victim of abuse. And it explores how natural it is, even when one is robbed of their bodily autonomy, to still dream and want freedom.

Cinderella Is A Story Of A Victim Escaping Her Abusers More Than It Is A Love Story

Despite her situation, Cinderella actually has the most agency within the story. She actively drives the plot forward and has more of an impact than any other character.

Her journey was never about meeting the prince or finding love. All she wanted was one night of fun to escape her daily struggles. And when her step sisters rip her dress from her body, she cries because that was a traumatic experience, not because she’s sad she can’t go to the ball.

She had no power to strike back. All she could do was escape to cry. And when given the opportunity to go to the ball, she takes it because it’s her only night of freedom. And even when she shows up at the ball, she isn’t looking for the prince. She didn’t even know who he is.

And in the end, while the Prince begins the search. Cinderella is the one who frees herself. She is the one who has enough courage and strength to defy her stepfamily. The Prince may be the vehicle for her freedom but Cinderella is the one who frees herself.

And this obviously means the love story comes second to her own journey. And that’s not a bad thing. It doesn’t make the story bland, it just changes the purpose. And if you want to see their true character and how much they love each other, I’d recommend watching Cinderella 3.

Final Thoughts

As everyone can probably tell, I have a lot of thoughts about this story. It has been a hyper fixation of mine since I was a very small child. And while it may be considered basic by most, it is certainly not boring.

There is a reason why Cinderella is the most adapted fairytale out there. Because the story is a compelling one and its’ messages are universal.

Cinderella isn’t encouraging obedience. It isn’t telling you that if you never fight your abuser and remain a doormat, eventually a man will come to save you. That’s such a sexist and reductive take.

No, Cinderella is showing that sometimes, the best option is to bide your time. Sometimes, if you are in danger, you have to play along with your abuser until an opportunity comes to escape. And that doesn’t make you weak.

Cinderella is a strong female character and a positive role model. And to suggest otherwise would be to disregard its’ core messaging. It would be to oversimplify the story and judge it based on cliff notes or popular perception.