A lot has been said about the vanishing family, the decline of the American dream, the loss of the middle class. Since this is a blog narrowly focused on family entertainment, I will mention the decline and possible loss of something else. Probably trivial when compared to major world issues, but a loss never the less.
Go back in time 50 years. I was a boy of 7, with a schoolboy crush. Haley Mills. As time went on, she was displaced by Susan Hampshire. What did they have in common? Both were Disney girls. Probably unintentionally at first, but in later years probably a conscious decision by Disney - present film audiences with an ideal girl. Innocent of corruption from the bad influences of the world, beautiful - usually blonde to begin with, with high moral standards. Role models that young girls could aspire to, beautiful and virtuous for young men to dream about.
Sadly, even from the beginning - this goal proved elusive. Haley Mills smoking for her first post Disney role. It is said that the downfall of Haley Mills - mild by today's standards - contributed to Walt Disney's death. She literally broke his heart. Ironic since he was a tobacco addict himself, and probably died of habitual use. How upset he would have been in later years, when she married a man over twice her age.
Fast forward to the present day. Disney has not fared well in its pursuit of uncontroversial female stars. The times have changed, and the nature of the offenses has also changed. From the downfall of Lindsey Lohan, the mistakes made by Miley Cyrus, medical problems of Demi Lovato - Disney has taken it on the chin. This is not from lack of effort. Disney has attempted to hedge their bets - by hiring a lot of Christians. But Christians are not perfect - just forgiven. So Disney is beginning to hire girls who are younger.
There are many Disney girls who present role models for this age, Alyson Stoner, Chelsea Kane, Nicole Anderson, Selena Gomez, Jennifer Stone, Tiffany Thornton, Allisyn Ashley Arm, Bridget Mendler, Bella Thorne, Zendaya Coleman, Debby Ryan, Peyton List, Sierra McCormick, China Anne McClain, Steffanie Scott, Allie DeBerry, Laura Marano, Raini Rodriguez, and probably half a dozen others I forgot about. I have the highest admiration for every one of them at this stage in their career. AS far as I can tell, they are doing their very best professionally for Disney. But - as Disney has found out - some of them will be human. Certainly - Disney has to have a behavior standard - as a Disney boy Mitchel Musso just found out. And I can't blame them for severing contact with stars that grossly exceed acceptable standards. Several names come to mind besides Mitchel - people whose actions reflect very badly on the Disney name, which is synonymous with "family".
The concept of "Disney girl" was flawed from the start. It is a standard that nobody can live up to, an illusion that can only be maintained for a time. The realities of adult roles, marriages and having children will set in. Some Disney girls will age with dignity and class - like Jodie Foster and Hillary Duff. Others - not so much. Is the pressure of being this role model too much for some of the Disney girls? Does it make them go bad? Does Disney overwork them? There is some evidence that Demi Lovato was overworked, contributing to her breakdown. Even a classy young lady like Selena Gomez was overworked to exhaustion. That is Disney's fault, and who know how many of their Disney girls were wrecked by a hectic schedule.
Disney has competition at Nickelodeon. I have to say that Nickelodeon - free from the pressure of having to be "family" - has fared better over the years. From Nickelodeon's perspective - there has been a high profile problem with Jami Lynn Spears becoming pregnant - but she had the class and good graces to fade away quietly and devote herself to motherhood. And what a good mother she is from all accounts. The term "Nick Chicks" has been widely used - and certainly the ones that I have have known live up to an ideal that seems to be as high or higher than Disney. Ironically - not having the pressure of being a "Disney princess in waiting" seems to lead to better personal balance. Perhaps Disney can learn from this. Perhaps not. But I can tell you my days of expecting perfection are long gone - as far in the past as my boyhood crush on Haley Mills. With that in mind - there is a new type of Disney girl that can be looked up to - the working actress who practices her profession with talent and skill. And who keeps their private life just that - private. Disney has wisely populated their "ABC Family" with the girls of "Switched at Birth", "Pretty Little Liars", "Melissa and Joey", and other excellent shows that have not been as successful. Those stars - not put under the pressure of enforced perfection - have fared much better.
So - who is the most stereotypical Disney girl of this age? I'd nominate Stephanie Scott. Blonde, beautiful, talented - smile that probably inspires a million teenage boys. Probably the most like Haley Mills - with Bridget Mendler the most like Susan Hampshire. Dream about them - young men of this age. Disney, I think, is in good hands. But don't put too much weight on their tender young shoulders. They don't deserve the burden of perfection.
