Many scholars believe that fairy tales, especially those handed down
             for hundreds of years, are in large part reflective of the societies that
             they depict. Towards this, feminist theorists have looked at how these
             fairy tales expose cultural norms regarding patriarchy. In their study of
             classical fairy tales like Cinderella, Jerilyn Fisher and Ellen S. Silber
             (2000) conclude that these stories "recount true female experience under
             patriarchy, a world in which innocent young women are set against their
             sisters and mothers in rivalry for the affection of males."
             However, not every scholar finds the story of Cinderella a metaphor
             for female oppression. Mercer Krogness (1996) observes that versions of
             the ancient fairy tale of Cinderella exists across more than 500 different
             cultures, including ancient Africa, China, India, Egypt, and Korea. She
             attributes the tale's universalism and enduring popularity not in the
             fantasy aspect of fairy godmothers and royalty. Instead, Krogness locates
             the heart of this timeless tale in "a young girl's feelings of rejection,
             dejection, abandonment, and depression" (Krogness 1996). These feelings
             continue to resonate with children, preteens and teenagers today because
             the familiar emotions connect with their own. Young people -- male or
             female -- greatly identify with the story's oppressed lead character.
             The rivalry of women for men and the alienation caused by rejection
             and abandonment continue to be familiar themes in the literature of young
             people. These themes play into other forms of entertainment as well.
             Currently, an upcoming movie called The Prince and Me follows the life of a
             modern-day Cinderella who falls in love with the Prince of England. While
             this can be interpreted as a continuation of gendered stereotypes, the
             enduring popularity of Cinderella can also be read as a springboard for
             commonality. Children and ad...