Summary (256 words):
Staninger begins her piece with the success of Aladdin, mainly to question it. Why was this clearly stereotypical movie so popular? Why is it that academics who see the clear issues with the movie love it so? Why is Jasmine so appealing to American audiences? She is directly inspired by the Californian American teen who would admire her. She wears cropped tops, low-rise pants, and personifies the modern feminist movement through her dismissal of the rich suitors who offer her marriage. She isn’t looking for love but will only accept that, and nothing less, in a partner. In addition, the piece speaks about the contrast between the rights of women in America in the 60s and in Iraq. Ironically, its swapped. In the 60s, women were made to depend on their husbands and fathers and sexually and personally isolated, while the women in Iraq are the total opposite. Finally, Staninger speaks about the history of the Middle East and misogyny. Which isn’t what most people believe it to be. In fact, women were respected and viewed highly, if not as equals by leaders up until the eighth and ninth centuries, where there was “international aggression by the Muslims” and women were taken as spoils of war. This is the beginning of what people now know as the extreme oppression of women, who had to marry in the hopes of improving their lot in life. This is also the period when The Nights was written, which the writers of Aladdin took a large amount of inspiration from.
Summary (151 characters):
Staninger explores the reasons that audiences love Aladdin and the incorrect ideals that Americans have about Middle Eastern Culture and its influence.
