A representação da mulher em contos de fadas tradicionais e contemporâneos: um olhar sobre a fragilidade e o empoderamento feminino

Abstract

The present work aims to investigate, in a bibliographical analysis in the area of Children's and Youth Literature, the representation of the female image in traditional and contemporary fairy tales, reflecting on the roles of women found in the texts. When talking about classic stories, from the youngest to the oldest readers, they refer to the traditional narrative of the princess who goes through difficulties, but marries a prince who comes to save her, and they live happily ever after. For these and other elements, the narrative becomes romanticized, one of the facts that make such tales popular. However, this idealization, especially about the protagonist, may reflect a weakened image of the woman, who will only be happy if she marries an enchanted prince, and for this she is presented as beautiful, thin, with white skin, gentle, and accepting the patriarchal action in her life, contrary to what is seen in contemporary stories. Thinking about this, this research sought to understand initially the origin of fairy tales and their trajectory until the contemporary, highlighting the important role they have in the development of childhood. In order to reflect on the image of women in fairy tales, it was also sought to bring the vision of the female gender throughout time and within the narratives in general. The research aimed to reflect on how the feminine is described and represented in the stories. To this end, two tales were analyzed: Cinderella [1812(2019)], translated version of the Brothers Grimm, and Uma, Duas, Três Princesas (2014), by Ana Maria Machado. This research is based on the contributions of authors such as Bettelheim - The psychoanalysis of fairy tales (2007), Nelly Novaes Coelho, in Children's literature: theories, analysis, and didactics (2000), The Fairy Tale: Symbols, Myths, and Archetypes (2003), and Historical overview of children's literature: from its Indo-European origins to contemporary Brazil (1985). Also Tonin et al. - The role of women in contemporary fairy tales. (2016), among other authors of scientific articles and theses. The results of this research are: the understanding about the female role in traditional and contemporary tales, presenting fragility and empowerment, respectively; the observation about how certain stereotypes are greatly present in traditional tales; the encouragement of a greater propagation of contemporary stories; the reflection about the current image of the woman in the new fairy tales, being the protagonist of her own story.