CINDERELLA & PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT — 3 ARTICLES

DESCRIPTION

The Smithsonian blog (March 15, 2015) notes that “there is no scarcity of Cinderella tales—folklorists have identified more than 700 different variants around the world. How to explain the popularity of this humble heroine who marries her handsome prince in spite of her treacherous stepsisters and abusive stepmother?

Peg Streep in Psychology Today (March 17, 2015) discusses the recent release (March 13, 2015) of Disney’s Cinderella film and connects the theme to issues of women’s’ growing up and development in our culture.  She discusses women and independence, the Cinderella Complex (Colette Dowling, 1981), messages to girls, and family life.  It is important to note that the author also discusses Bruno Bettelheim’s view of the purpose of ‘fairy tales’ and childhood.  Additionally, though the author does not discuss Jung, she notes the common themes of some of the Grimm Fairy tales (Snow White and Hansel & Gretel) regarding family life and the cruelty of the stories.  These fairy tales exist in various forms in all cultures.

ARTICLE #1:  “Why the Story of Cinderella Still Enchants —The truths told by fairy tales and why they matter”

SOURCE

Psychology Today, Mar 17, 2015, Post published by Peg Streep

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/tech-support/201503/why-the-story-cinderella-still-enchants

(shortened URL)  http://tinyurl.com/ocj2u8n

ARTICLE #2:  Why the Story of Cinderella Endures and Resonates

SOURCE

Smithsonian, March 15, 2015

LINK TO RESOURCE

(shortened URL)  http://tinyurl.com/kr8lccz

Article #3:  THE CINDERELLA SYNDROME by Colette Dowling

SOURCE

New York Times Magazine, March 22, 1981
This article is adapted from ”The Cinderella Complex: Women’s Hidden Fear of Independence,” by Colette Dowling

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/22/magazine/the-cinderella-syndrome.html

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•What are the common themes of ‘fairy tales’ ?
•Are there similar stories in cultures other than the western cultural stories?
•Do ‘fairy tales’ serve any purpose in childhood development?
•What women’s issues are disguised in these stories?
•Explore how Jung and Bettelheim analyzed fairly tales and the human mind and  condition.
•MULTI-CULTURAL EXERCISE:   Ask students of other than Western cultures to tell their ‘fairy tales’ of their own backgrounds.