Every fairytale has an unfortunate beginning. Alas, this is not the tale of a young maiden who yearns to be rescued by a knight in shining armor. This is the story of a girl forced to abandon her innocence far too early and it is my own. I ask for no pity or understanding. I merely wish for a chance to tell the world how I became the young woman who is writing this very text. It all began with a truly unfortunate circumstance.

High school was not what I dreamed it would be. Freshman year was engaging, of that there is no doubt, but it was also different and stressful. Summer’s arrival filled me with a certain glee. However, that happiness did not last. It was that very summer that I was sexually assaulted by an acquaintance. As countless others in my situation, I was lost and frightened. I did not understand what had happened and what I did to deserve it. No comprehension dawned upon me for years. I kept silent and suffered this trauma on my own for I believed it to be my own fault. A potent self-loathing grew within my mind that accompanied an isolation of my own design. To put it simply, I was inflicting a punishment upon myself even though I was at fault for absolutely nothing. Of course, I did not realize that then.

Sophomore year was when I finally confessed my hidden shame. I revealed my impurity and waited to be abandoned. No one left me. No one had forsaken me. Instead, they offered endless love and support. In nearly two years, my tears were not induced by pain and hatred. I sobbed with joy because I was never alone and never will be. I attended therapy and spoke about my experience with trusted friends. I lifted a crushing weight from shoulders and faced the world. I know now that I was not at fault. The blame lies with my attacker. There is no hatred left in my heart-- not for myself or him. I cannot change the past, however painful it may be, but I can influence my future.

It was with a changed heart and determination that I set out to change my ways. Gone were the vices that I used to numb the pain and in with healthy passions that filled my mind with wonder. I came to terms with my sexuality and sought solace in theater. I lost myself in the worlds of Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables. My desire to one day be in a production of one of my saving graces spurred a lost motivation. This time also brought about an interest in feminism and other social sciences. I wanted to help others for I knew how it was to suffer and I could never wish that upon anyone. I have educated myself in both passions and continue to do so every single day. Essentially, I discovered myself.

I beg of all who read this: do not think of me as a victim. That degrades my growth over the last three years. I am a survivor. This thought strengthens me to face each day and keep living. I did not let someone else’s evil ruin me. Instead, I turned it on its head and made myself better. My trauma has shaped my identity in the worst of ways and the best of ways. Of course, I will always wish that I did not endure such hardship but it is no use being chained to the past. I have accepted this event and use it as a catalyst for my goals. Giving up would let my attacker win his sick power-play. I will never let that be the case. I am brave. I am strong. I am the hero of my own story.

A Case for Pocahontas 2: No, I'm Not Kidding

Let’s preface this with some frankness: Disney sequels suck more often than not. The animation usually sees a vast downgrade, the plot is dull, and, overall, it ruins whatever inspirational message the original film got across. However--and hear me out on this for a second--I just want you to put aside what I am sure are very adamant Disney opinions and consider what I’m about to lay down.
The Pocahontas sequel wasn’t as bad as everyone makes it out to be.
Now, I’m sure there are some angry people out there after reading that, but give me a chance before putting me on blast. I have a legitimate case lined up for this film and all you have to do is sit back and either seriously consider my points or just scoff as you type up a strongly worded comment. I’ll take both as a success--I thrive off all sorts of attention.
Pocahontas II: Journey to A New World has been generally perceived as terrible. It’s rocking a sweet 29% on Rotten Tomatoes and has been the source of ridicule amongst the Disney fandom. Trust me, I get why people hate it. As mentioned before, the animation suffered in comparison to the original and it is certainly something I made fun of every single time I watched it. Honestly, never watch the movies back-to-back. The quality shift will reduce you to tears. Regardless, I firmly believe that this film deserves a bit more credit in a certain department. Did you think this was going to be a mere reiteration of an unpopular opinion? Oh no, I’m taking this a step further and arguing that this much hated sequel actually has an empowering and realistic message for children. Yes, folks, we are really going there.
First things first, I hesitate to label it feminist in any aspect, a thought that also extends to the original. For the sake of nuance, I feel it essential to acknowledge the issues at play. Disney completely butchered the real life tale of Pocahontas--kind of like the fact that that’s not even her real name. She was aged up (11 to 18) and made to shack up with a white colonist who, in reality, was almost two decades older than her. A tad creepy, no? We also have the nice little fact that the Powhatan tribe actually offered to help with the accuracy of the film and were told no. Not looking too great right now. To be fair, the whole point of the sequel was to push the story in a more historically accurate direction. However, the reality there is kind of sketchy as well. The real Pocahontas was taken captive by the English in 1613. It was during her captivity that she took on the name Rebecca and converted to Christianity (classical assimilation rears its head). She ends up marrying John Rolfe, has a kid, and dies around the age of 20-21 in 1617. Not very Disney-like, huh? Besides major historical inaccuracies,  critics also panned it for not properly representing Native Americans and reverting to harmful stereotypes. As a feminist, I cannot not discount these criticisms. Romanticizing a history of blatant colonialism will always be harmful and this must be taken into account. Out of respect for the Native American community, I will not hail either movie as any sort of feminist media and will fully acknowledge that both are rife with flaws.
Alright, let’s get back on track. A main point of contention amongst fans has been the love triangle between John Smith, John Rolfe, and Pocahontas. Particularly, it has been John Smith being kicked to the wind in favor of John Rolfe that has made a number of fans quite peeved. I’m not even going to beat around the bush with this--Pocahontas thought Smith was dead. We have an entire song of her coming to terms with his apparent death and beginning to move on. It is with that mind-set that she meets and eventually falls for Rolfe. When she heads across the sea to speak to the king in the name of her tribe, she is faced with one hell of a dilemma. Incoming sixteen year old spoiler, Smith is actually alive and he wants her back. To some, the choice is easy. Smith, of course! That’s her first love, one who returned from the dead! It has to be him! Sorry but I’m gonna say it shouldn’t have been and that the right choice was made. Let’s review once more: Pocahontas thought her man was dead, coped, and found a new man. While she still loved Smith, it was no longer in the same way as before. Why? Because she fell in love again, something we all do more than once in our lifetimes. That’s realistic and actually packs an important message. While most films (especially Disney) present first love as being true and eternal, this rarely ends up being the case. It’s a hard reality to deal with--trust me, I know--but it is one children should know so they can form and end relationships in a healthy manner. Yes, the plot point that is so hated actually says something worthwhile. I’ll give you a moment to take that in.
Branching off from the love triangle, let’s take a gander at the concept of independence. Pocahontas willing chose Rolfe. Despite Smith waltzing back into her life and bringing back with him the promises of their initial romance, she chooses Rolfe. Okay, a part of the reason she does is because Disney was retconning the original romance in favor of a historically accurate one. Alright, I acknowledged it. Moving on. I’d argue that Smith and Rolfe represent different parts of her life. Smith is the Pocahontas, who yearned to see the world, rebellious and free. Rolfe is the woman who knows where she truly belongs, happy and free. Pocahontas got to see some of the world and found she missed her home. She could not get used to European society, no matter how hard she tried. She just wanted to go home. And you know what? Choosing Smith wouldn’t have meshed with that. The man is going out on an adventure at the end and offers to take her along, but she refuses because young woman’s desire is bound to change as she grows and matures. She wants home. She wants Rolfe. In the end, she gets both.
As I mentioned earlier, the real Pocahontas does not get a happy ending. She died all the way across the sea from her home, stripped of her identity. To make matters worse, she passed away as she set sail for Virginia once more. Personally, I believe there’s something satisfying to see a version of Pocahontas (albeit one with a lot of creative liberties) finally find her way back home. There’s also the fact that Rolfe chooses her over the opportunity to make his dreams a reality. To take a page from Tangled, she ended up being his new dream. Unlike with Smith, their desires aligned and presented them with a path to mutual happiness. Neither had to compromise because both had their dreams and desires grow to become intertwined with one another. It just made sense.
Let’s end with some more frankness: I don’t expect to change many minds. As I said, I know you have some adamant opinions in regards to your Disney movies and I’ll be damned if I try to change them. However, I like to think I made you at least give an affirmative “huh” at least once. I’m not asking for much here. I truly believe that Pocahontas II should get more credit for working with what it had. It’s in no ways feminist, but there’s still a lesson to be learned. Also, in terms of the fictional characters, John Rolfe > John Smith. Case closed.