Madness: Mother wants ban on Sleeping Beauty over ‘inappropriate’ kiss
A MOTHER wants her son’s school to ban children’s classic Sleeping Beauty because the slumbering princess does not give her consent to be kissed.
Sarah Hall says the fairytale sends an “inappropriate” message to young children because it reinforces the notion that it is acceptable for men to kiss women while they are asleep.
But the PR executive’s demands sparked an angry backlash last night. Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said: “The prince is resuscitating her with a kiss of life. Are we going to teach children not to try to save somebody? Far from banning fairytales I would make them compulsory in all schools as they display wisdom that has been passed down through the ages.
“Stories such as Sleeping Beauty or Little Red Riding Hood are ideal for teaching children about dangers in the world and how goodness trumps evil.
“And for the politically correct lobby, the story is actually about a man overcoming an evil female to bring goodness to the world, so would be something they should celebrate, not try to ban.”
Ms Hall, of Northumbria Park, near Newcastle upon Tyne, is worried about what message the tale sends to impressionable youngsters such as her six-year-old son.
She said: “In today’s society it isn’t appropriate. My son is only six, he absorbs everything he sees, and it isn’t as if I can turn it into a constructive conversation. I don’t think taking Sleeping Beauty books out of circulation completely would be right. I actually think it would be a great resource for older children. You could have a conversation around it, you could talk about consent, and how the princess might feel.
“But I’m really concerned about it for younger children and would welcome a conversation about whether this is suitable material.”
North Tyneside Conservative councillor Ed Hodson said: “This is completely ridiculous. Has the world gone mad?
“Some fairytales are obviously quite dark and yet children seem to love them. I think we should stick with the wisdom of youth on this matter.” Ms Hall said recent coverage of sexual abuse, including the social media “Me Too” campaign, had made her think about the messages being sent to youngsters.
She added: “These are indicative of how ingrained that kind of behaviour is in society.
“All these small things build up, and they make a difference.”
Ms Hall, who is standing for election as president of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, said there might be problems with other fairytales but that she is most disturbed by the “non-consensual” kissing in this one.
She added: “I think it’s a specific issue in the Sleeping Beauty story about sexual behaviour and consent.
“It’s about saying, ‘Is this still relevant? Is it appropriate?’”
EVERY day we seem to see an increasingly ludicrous demand to outlaw something on the grounds of some PC nonsense, but the call to ban Sleeping Beauty because the princess does not give consent to be kissed takes the biscuit. The story also involves evil old crones wielding spindles: does this mean we should ban handicrafts, too?
Generations of children have been enchanted by Sleeping Beauty. Many might well have played out the story in the playground, with toddlers pretending to be princess and prince. Does anyone seriously believe this has damaged any child, ever? At least the outcry in protest means most people still have a little common sense.
But this has gone beyond the realms of parody. What next? Georgie Porgie, pudding and pie? No longer able to kiss the girls and make them cry?