Waiting For My Disney Princess
Someone recently asked me “Why are you doing this? Do you really think your blog can make a difference?”. My answer, “Absolutely.”
I recently watched Becoming, the Michelle Obama documentary on Netflix. While having a round table discussion with a group of young women she said,
“We can’t afford to wait for the world to be equal to start feeling seen.”
As a dwarf living in a world that was not designed for me, this really resonated. I’m tired of waiting. Growing up, the only time I saw someone like me on TV was in a reality show or documentary. As a little girl, I never felt I had my Disney Princess.
What do I mean by that?
I was born during the height of the Disney Renaissance. Disney was re-releasing their classic movies like Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty on VHS. In theaters I saw The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Pocahontas and Mulan. In the days before Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel and Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman, Disney Princesses were my superheroes. Ariel refused to be complacent and followed her heart. Belle stayed true to herself, refusing to conform to society’s norms. Mulan risked her life to protect her family and saved China. Yet, I never identified with any of them. They set beauty standards I could never meet, reached heights I never could.
I’ve climbed to the top of Masada, stood on the sidelines of a College Bowl game, worked a triathlon in London, auditioned for Kids Jeopardy!, set a squat PR of 200 lbs, graduated from college and got a job in New York City. Yet, whenever I walk into a room, more often than not, I feel that all anyone can see is my disability.
My disability is a part of me, it does not define me.
As a young adult in 2020 I am still waiting for my Disney Princess- one that is strong, compassionate, and independent. One that does not rely on others to succeed. One whose body doesn’t have to be perfect. I am waiting to see people like me in magazines, on stage, strutting the runways. I’m waiting for them to be the decision makers- designers, editors, directors, politicians, etc. I am waiting for the day where my height is just a number, not a perceived limitation.
What I will no longer wait for is permission to say what I think is right.
With this blog, I am making myself seen. I am making myself heard. I am using my voice, my platform, to ignite change. I am not asking to be treated equally, I am demanding to be given the chance. I want the next generation of little people to have their Disney Princess, to grow up in a world that is designed for them, where they feel seen. That world may not be equal, but it will be accessible.
