12 Questions
What might Jack have done in today's version instead of stealing and killing?
Get a job to help his poor mom
What was the king's response to the witch's curse in the Sleeping Beauty story?
He forbade the spinning of all materials
What is a problematic aspect of the Hansel and Gretel story?
The inhumane treatment of captives and child abuse
What is a potential issue with the term 'dwarf' in the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs story?
It has been criticized for being offensive
What is a concern about Red Riding Hood's journey in the original story?
She was walking alone in the woods
What is a characteristic of the wolf in the Red Riding Hood story?
He is a stalker and an abuser of the elderly
What is political correctness, as described in the text?
Avoiding expressions that can be perceived to exclude or marginalize people
Why do many people today consider the story of Rapunzel to be problematic?
Because it contains violent imagery, blatant sexism, and criminal child abuse
What might Cinderella end up doing in a 'corrected' version of the story?
Stuck in a dead-end office job
What is a potential concern about the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears?
It is an 'Amber Alert situation'
Why is Jack and the Beanstalk not typically called 'Jane and the Beanstalk'?
Because it is probably just as well
What is a criticism of Jack's behavior in the story of Jack and the Beanstalk?
He is a little thief who doesn't follow his mother's instructions
Study Notes
Political Correctness in Fables and Tales
- Political correctness refers to the avoidance of expressions or actions that can be perceived to exclude or marginalize or insult people who are specially disadvantaged or discriminated against.
Critiques of Classic Fables
- Rapunzel:
- Criticized for violent imagery, blatant sexism, and criminal child abuse
- Story features a child being given up for adoption, then placed in solitary confinement, and only rescued by a man
- Cinderella:
- Potential critique: burdened by cruel sisters and sexist drudgery of menial housework
- Alternative: stuck in a dead-end office job
- Goldilocks and the Three Bears:
- Potential "Amber Alert situation" due to the lack of concern for the missing girl's whereabouts
- Historical note: high mortality rates in the past meant many children were orphaned
- Jack and the Beanstalk:
- Critique: Jack is a thief who disobeys his mother and kills the ogre
- Alternative: Jack could have gotten a job to help his mother instead of resorting to thievery and murder
- Sleeping Beauty:
- Critique: story involves probable nudity and a guy rescuing a girl in trouble
- Historical note: the king's decree banning spinning materials might have caused a clothing shortage in the realm
- Hansel and Gretel:
- Critique: story involves child abuse, spousal abuse, inhumane treatment of captives, and poor nutrition
- Alternative: cottage windows made of Splenda instead of sugar
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs:
- Critique: term "dwarf" has come under fire; alternative title suggestions are unwieldy
- Red Riding Hood:
- Critique: story involves child abuse, stalker behavior, and abuse of the elderly
- Alternative: Red Riding Hood should not have walked alone in the woods and visited a sick relative unattended
Explore how classic fairy tales and stories are viewed through the lens of modern political correctness. This quiz examines how tales like Rapunzel have been criticized for their violent imagery, sexism, and child abuse. Test your knowledge on how these stories are perceived today.
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