Farmville, Virginia high school student Jewel Moore has created a petition via Change.org asking the Walt Disney Animation Studios to create a "bright, amazing, and memorable" plus-size Disney princess to help improve the self-image of impressionable young girls.
"I made this petition because I'm a plus-size young woman," wrote Moore, "and I know many plus-size girls and women who struggle with confidence and need a positivie [sic] plus-size character in the media."
Disney's princesses, much like Barbie dolls, have unrealistic bodies that promote impossible beauty ideals, as one teenager pointed out in 2013. And, like Barbies, girls are being exposed to these impossible standards of beauty at a young age.
Here is Moore's petition in full, which currently has just over 1,000 signatures:
I'm a Junior in high school named Jewel. I made this petition because I'm a plus-size young woman, and I know many plus-size girls and women who struggle with confidence and need a positivie [sic] plus-size character in the media.
Studies show that a child's confidence correlates greatly with how much representation they have in the media. It's extremely difficult to find a positive representation of plus-size females in the media. If Disney could make a plus-size female protagonist who was as bright, amazing, and memorable as their others, it would do a world of good for those plus-size girls out there who are bombarded with images that make them feel ugly for not fitting the skinny standard.
Disney films are highly influential and wide-spread, and they impact the lives of many children, especially girls. It would be revolutionary for Disney to show support to a group of girls who are otherwise horrendously bullied by the media. It would make many young girls feel confident and worthy to see a strong character that looks like them. This move on Disney's part would have an amazing positive ripple effect in people all around the world.
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