An Innocent Perspective: Princess Jasmine

In my all boy household, we have watched a lot of Elmo, a lot of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, etc. Our introduction to full-length movies included Cars, Finding Nemo, and Over the Hedge. No princes or princesses. Until we watched the beginning of Aladdin last night before bed. Jasmine was the first princess Collin met (oh, except Shrek's Princess Fiona, but she's an ogre!).

"Mommy, come here!" (almost in a whisper as he waves his arm to gesture me towards him)

"MOM (pointing to the tv) -- she's kinda naked!"

And so she is. Dressed in a bikini-style top and classic MC Hammer balloon pants.

Collin's resolution: "Maybe she's going swimming."

Is it time to talk about appropriate dress with my 3 year old boy?! Please say, No! I mean, I understand that Jasmine's "costume" is appropriate for the time/location of Aladdin's story. And I appreciate that Ariel is a mermaid, who lives in the water, when we first meet her and her sea-shell top. But please, Disney, keep the gals clothed -- thank goodness for Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella, who at least appeared chaste and innocent (although Sleeping Beauty refused to move until a man gave in to her utmost desire and Snow White lived with 7 other men before finding her Prince Charming).

*Interestingly, there is a point in the movie, as Aladdin is "soliciting" Jasmine on her bedroom balcony, when Aladdin whispers quickly, masked by music and flurry, "Take off your clothes!" It's one of the creators' hidden quirks. I've heard it myself - it's there. There was lots of media hype over it in 1994. At the end, one fact remained: no matter how it was tweaked by opposing sides of the debate, undeniably, the phrase is in the movie.